Butlerina.

Mataura Ensign, Issue 276, 29 April 1897, Page 3

Butlerina.

, MOKE CONFESSIONS. Sydney, April 27. Tho s.s. Mariposa arrived to-day, and as soon as she entered the heads Butler was transferred to a police launch, landed at a quiet part of the harbor and driven to Darlinghurst Gaol. There was no demonstration, but considerable crowds gathered at the wharf and alorjg]the shore 3of the harbor. Butler was subsequently committed on a warrant charging him with the murders of Pi estop and Lee Weller. He is to take his trial at the criminal sessions on May 31st or such time as the Crown may fix. The only evidence was that of identification, given by Deiective Roach, and Constables Conroy and McLean. From Auckland Butler maintained a sullen demeanour, but varied the monotony by making a number of alleged confessions. He told reporters that he had fourteen murders and about twenty big robberies to tell them about, but it was too soon yet. He was not going to show hi? hand till he saw what the Crown would do in Sydney. He said be would send for reporters and tell all about his crimes. La(er on he added that he should have been hung ten years ago for killing his wife. He recounted with glee several murder? he had committed in Western Australia, and wound up by stating that while a boy at school he killed another boy and stuffed his body in a hollow tree. If his stories have any f jundation he has wallowed in bloody crimes from his youth up. He takes great pride in telling of these and said he had only two bad breaks in his life — oue when he gave his photo to a girl in Sydney, and the other when he took possession of Weller's belongings, by which he was traced. Amongst other statements of Butler, evidently made with ulterior motives, is that his father died a lunatic. Another crime which he hints he knows something about is the murder of a man at Cootamundra whose body, with the head battered in, was found in a water-hole two years ago. The detectives, when interviewed, fully confiru Butler's confessions of the murder of Burgess and several others and the attempts at suicide. They are convinced he can make more sensational disclosures and will do so in the near future. Butler states that he spent four years in Western Australia and served a little while in the police force as a probationer. He hinted at many dark crimes he had committed in Westralia and says he partook in sticking up gold escorts. He says he fs not going to be known as Butler any more as it has become too common — his name is John Smith.