The record-union., 1897-02-03


The prisoner makes much of his al
legged opportunity to escape from the
ship last night as she was coming
| through the Golden Gate and swim
| ashore. He says he made no effort to
escape, as he is innocent and that he
| is really Lee Weller. When he was
| searched under the lining of his hat
were found several arsenic powders,
which he begged to be allowed to keep,
saying they were for his toothache.
When the Monowai sails for Australia
on Friday she will not take Butler and
the Australian detectives. The prls-
| oner's presence is required before
United States Court Commissioner next
Monday, and if Butler makes a tech q.
nical defense to his eXtradition, as Ire
says he Will do, he may remain in San
Francisco for several weeks. When he
was taken before the Commissioner this
afternoon he said his true name is Lee
Weller, and after Constable Conroy OF
the Australian police had identified him
as Butler, the alleged murderer the
prisoners attorneys asked for a con-
tlnuance for ten days in order to pre- .
pare a defense. Next Monday was set
date for both sides.
Butler maintains his policy of reti-
cence and absolutely refuses to discuss
his past except for momentary lapses,
when a shrewd question throws aim
temporarily off his guard. Butler is
displaying much cunning, but it IS of
rather a low order He refuses to
even look al a reporter unless the new s.
paper man keeps him supplied with ci
gars which he smokes necessarily.
When thus bribed he will listen to
questions, but will return no replies.
What may be evidences of another
murder committed by Butler came to
light tonight, when a young woman
called at the Police Station with
story that will keep the police busy for
some time to prove or diSproVe. Tbs
young woman said she was the daugh-
ter of James P. Dixon, and had arrived
here three months ago from Australia,
leaving her father there. She has not
heard from him since, and alarmed Ky
the stories of the crimes perpetrated by
Butler, she called at the Police Station
to make inquiry. This Immediately set
the officers to work, and startling evi-
means of adding another TO the long
lish Of Buffers crimes. Several shirts
marked James P. Dixon We're found
among his effects, and the police and
the young woman believe that the
shirts belonged to the latter's father,
who has met his death at Buffers
hands. The young woman thinks she
has some shirts in her possession bear
ing her fathers mark, and will compare
them with the shirts found in Buffers
possession tomorrow.
CAPTAIN FRAZIER'S STORY.
Captain Frazier, of the Swanhilda,
had an interesting story to tell. He said
that Butler shipped with him under the
name of Lee Weller one of his victims
He had shipped as an able seaman and
did his work we'll Beyond a doubt he
knew something of the sea, and no
complaint could be made on that score
From the time Weller, or Buffer
shipped until the day the Swanhilda
was spoken by the steamer Taupo,"
said Captain Frazier, Il had not the
slightest intimation that a murderer
was a member of the crew of my ship
When the vessel was just off Kernpedec
Island a steamer was reported by the
lookout on the Swanhilda. The man re-
ported the fact TO me, and at once | or
dered our signal flags hoisted, as is
customary.
The steamer changer her course and
bore down upon US, and a signal was
given TO heave to.
The request was obeyed and when
the Taupo had approached to a close
distance a boat was seen to put off
from her. The second officer of the
steamer came aboard and delivered to
me a sealed letter and a bundle Of pa
pers. l read the message and then for
the first time learned that among my
crew was a man who had committed
many murders and who was known to
the police as Frank Butler. ] told the
second officer Of the Taupo that no man
by the name of Butler had signed my
shipping articles. but he put me on my
guard and returned to his vessel The
two vessels very shortly thereafter
sailed apart. and various emotions
came over me as | watched the parting
salutes-the dipping of THE flag upon
my ship and three .shril blasts from
the Taupo's steam whistle
For a time l did not know lust ex-
actly what to do. / had no means of
identifying the man said to be Butler.
but | retired to my cabin and read with
much interest the accounts of the hor-
rible murders in Australia Finally all
was revealed to me. One of the papers
gave the Information that the murderer
had assumed the name of one of his
victims and shipped on the Swanhilda
as Lee Weller.
While / was very grateful for the
information, / did not dare to put the
man under arrest In the first place |
had not been officially notified by
either Consul or a police officer that
he man was a fugitive from Justice
nor had any one pointed him out to me-
While Of course under the circum-
stances had 1 put Butler in the brig
and at the close OF the voyage it had
developed that a mistake had been
made l. would have been liable for false
Imprisonment and heavy damages re-
suited TO the ships owners.
Another grave thing to consider was
the possible effect upon the crew. To
arrest one of their number merely upon
suspicion would have aroused them, and
beyond a doubt trouble would have re-
suited
II reasoned that Butler considered
himself safe from arrest. and that he
would commit no overt act. so he was
allowed his liberty, and the informa-
ton had received from the Taupo was
kept a profound secret You may rest
assured, however. that I kept on the
alart Rutler WAS watched hv ,oySaIf
as well as my first officer. Thomas
Meakle, and we were prepared for an
emergency at any moment. Nothing