The Springfield herald., 1897-03-26

story of the awful deeds he Is alleged
to have committed is so varied and
startling that new events crop out
daily. The case is therefore worthy OF
more extended comment.
The life of this great criminal IS
unique in the history OF modern crime.
So amazing have been his onenses that
1t is impossible to recount them Will
out involving doubt of his SANITY.
Yet there can be no question OIL the
fact that Butler Is n simple example
Of that cruelty and brutality that now
and then manifests itself among nod
ern civilized peoples The absolute ab-
sence of conscience or sympathy whlch
he displays is unparalleled among CIVIL
lied people during recent times. Inc
story of his crimes is horrifying. TO
sane man. with the exception oil ii. ii.
Holmes, is known to have manifested
such q lack tf feeling or to have car
ried on his murderous business with
such positive brutality. Butler Is
savage in the midst Of civilization.
Comparatively little is known Of his
former life. He is mining prospector
and seaman. He is known to nave
been in San Francisco four years ago.
Thence he went to Africa to search for
gold, and frorn Africa he migrated to
Australia. He is an Englishman OF
stature something above middle height,
with heavy eyes, bronzed complexion.
and perhaps 40 years of age. The ap-
pearance of his face is repulsive, but he
has a suavity of manner that enables
him to win the confidence OF men. and
l,. to1 ,t-tn 10, II bif,,
in Turing men to their doom. After
landing in Sydney Butler looked about
for something to do. He gave out that
he was a prospector. and people could
easily see that he had something of the
mariner about him. He did nothing to
attract attention, and he lived as he
pleased. Now and then he left town
~ was gone for few days, returning
as If from prospecting trip in the
mountains. Early last April he ma
,ured the design by which he encom-
passed the death OF many men. The
number of his victims is not known.
1t may be fifteen, it may be forty.
But the police have positive informa-
ton that five dead men are to be placed
to his account. His plan was hideous
Sunday paper for a partner to exploit
valuable mining claim. The victim
was invited to proceed with Butler to
the property. which, he said. was locat-
ed in the Blue mountains. forty miles
from Sydney. When in the wilderness
Butler set the victim to work digging,
and when the excavation was of size
sufficient the murderer shot his man
in the head, despoiled the body and
buried it in the grave prepared for it
self with its own hands. 1t was during
last October that Butler made one of
his trips into the mountains from Sgd
ney. On his return he assumed the
name of Frank p. Harwood. who had
disappeared short time before and of
whose whereabouts no one seemed to
know. Harwool was last seen in the
company Of Butler, but his disappear
ance had not attracted special atten-
tion. The man had no friends, and as
his absence did not concern anyone es-
pecially no inquiries were made for
him. Soon afte- Buffers temperance
in Sydney the advertisement for a
mining partner again appeared and
Arthur o. Preston, young English
man in attendance at the university of
Sydney, responded. Butler explained
to Preston that he had discovered a
good prospect in the mountains and the
two set out for the Emu plains on the
train. Arriving at the station near the
foothills the two men made their way
Into the mountains. A few days after
ward Butler returned to Sydney and
told his acquaintances that he had split
with Preston because the student was
too soft" Within few days after his
return from the trip with Preston But