DISCOVERY OF CAPTAIN WELLER'S BODY.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9604, 19 December 1896, Page 8

DISCOVERY OF CAPTAIN WELLER'S BODY.

The body of Captain Lee Weller, believed to have been murdered by Butler, was found about nine o'clock on Sunday morning, December 6th, in a valley about a mile to the westward of the town of Glenbrook, buried in a grave underneath an overhanging rock, almost exactly like that under which Preston's body was found. The fiuder was Mr J. J. Wood, an old resident of Glenbrook, who was out searching in company with Mr C. C. Champion. They took a course along the ridge of a low hillock which trends south-westerly. Champion took a course near the ridge, but Wood kept more to the brow of the hill, and after going a mile and a-half the latter walked up to the spot, and saw that the earth had recently been disturbed. He also noticed that some small, rotten logs were lying on the ground, and that they looked as though they were placed there more by design than by accident. Then again two or three pieces of the rock were chipped off, aud some of the sand disturbed in the process of digging had lodged on a ledge of the rock. He prodded the ground with a stick which he carried, and was after several trials rewarded with unmistakeable signs that there was something dead underneath. The precautions to hide this grave were not so elaborate as were taken at Linden. The mound was levelled off, but there did not seem to have been so much care taken to hide all traces of the disturbance of the soil. The logs were arranged rather carefully than otherwise, and their method of arrangement -would leave room for the supposition that it was intended to light a fire. However, they were not burned. There was a great similarity of situation in the graves of Preston and Weller. Both were under overhanging rocks, and both were placed so as to catch the drip of the water from the rocks above in wet weather. THE EXHUMATION. The police were fetched as soon as possible, and after they had communicated with Sydney it was decided to leave the body where it was until the Coroner and doctors could be present. A special train left Sydney in the afternoon for Glenbrook, carrying the Inspector-Geueral of Police, the Government medical officers, chief detectives, .'and several persons who had been intimately acquainted witli Captain Weller. " Glenbrook," says one of the special correapondents.with the party, " was one large picnic ground when we arrived. People from miles round had come in with their horses-, or conveyances, and were making a day of it. The bush was dotted with picnic parties. They were having afternoon tea about this time, but they hurried down to the gully when they saw that the Sydney visitors had arrived. . " A sudden drop from one large boulder to the ground beyond, and we were almost on the top of the grave. There were a few constables there, on guard. Immediately ronnd the grave the space was very limited, and already it was crowded with country folk. They made way for the InspectoiGeneral and the doctors, and contented themselves with watching operations from the surrounding rocks and trees. There were some hundreds present. The afternoon was oppressively hot. The constables who handled the spade were relieved at short intervals by direction of Mr Fosbery, who superintended operations. They were bathed in perspiration. The coffin, all ready for the reception of the body, lay. alongside the hole, which deepened every few minutes. " At first they removed the earth from the side of the body, then scraped it carefully from the top in order to avoid destroying any possible means of identification. The sheath knife, fastened by a belt round the dead man's waist appeared above the surface. Detective McLean withdrew it from its case. Next came a soft felt hat, which had apparently been thrown in after the body. ' I know the hat,' cried one of the two men who had come up to identify the body. The diggers plied their spades in the soft, sandy soil, until the whole of the back was exposed to view. Then they removed the" loose stuff, and tried to decide in what position the body lay. It was like a turtle's back. The feet, which were doubled up underneath the trunk, soou settled the matter. Some one lifted the -feet and pulled out a coat which had been thrust under in a lump. No one recognised the garment readily, but McLean felt the pockets and produced a briar pipe. 'That was Weller's pipe. I was with him when he bought it. He gave a shilling for it.' • This from one of the two men mentioned before. There was also a pocket knife, also identified. " Dr. Paton watched the process of exhumation carefully. He had already found out the lay of the body. It was trussed up like the table fowl, the head forced down on the chest, and the knees drawn up to the chin. In this way Weller had been literally crammed into his grave. It was a sickening sight. Some strong men who stood round found it advisable to move away. A blanket-was spread alongside the body, and two of the constables lifted the corpse on to it. They turned the corpse over and straightened out the limbs, while the medical men made a superficial examination of the head. One half the face would be easily recognisable by any person who had known Weller in life. In the blanket they lifted the body into the coffin, and then it was fastened up temporarily. Four men carried it. to the cart which was. in waiting. All the picnickers vanished after they had taken a last look at the spot, but a big crowd followed the coffin to the station, and saw it safely deposited in the mortuary car en route, for Penrith." EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST. At the inquest held oh the Monday, Dr. Paton, who had examined the body at Penrith, deposed that he found a bullet wound about 2in under the left ear, where the hair joined the neck. It had passed upwards, inwards and forwards, lacerating the brain and causing instant death. He was of opinion that the bullet was fired from a heavy revolver. The wound could not have been self-inflicted. Deceased had been shot from behind, and when found had been dead about five weeks. Robert A. Luckham, of Manly, identified the body as that of Captain Lee M. Weller. "I have known Weller since February last, when b.B arrived from Capetown. I know his handwriting. I recognise the signature in the book containing licenses to ship. The signature ' Lee Weller' on the back of the advance note dated November 19th, 1896, is a forgery. It is identical with the writing of the advertisement inserted by Butler to this effect :—' Metallurgist wanted, sociable young man, prospect western district, equal shares, experience unnecessary. Butler, Metropolitan Hotel, 401 Pitt street.' I have had a good deal of experience in handwriting." Other witnesses described the meetings between M eller and Butler, their departure together for Glenbrook, their arrival there, and Butler's return alone two or three days afterwards. Peter Farrell, a swagger, said — "On October 31st last I was at Emu Plains about eleven o'clock. I saw a man there, and

had a conversation with him. I identify him as Horwood (alias Harwood, alias Butler). He said, ' Are you hard up V I replied' 'It looks like it.' He rejoined, « Well, you might find these things useful,' and he handed mc one of those common sugar bags |hat we usually carry tucker in. There were some eatables in it, but no ! •clothing. Harwood said, * Where were you last night in the raiu?' I said, ' Oh, I ; was all right, but you seem to have been in it.' He was all wet, and his trousers were tucked up. He replied, ' Yes, I was out shooting with my mate ; but there was nothing to shoot.' * Later on, he added, * If I had seen you up the road I could have given you some other things.' I inquired what they were. I was told, ' Some waterproof sheeting and a tent. It is a good tent, but a bit torn. It -was blown down. I said I would go for them if he would tell mc where they were. He took a pocket-book from his coat and tore a leaf out. Then, against the side of the publichouse, he drew a plan of the spot. He gave mc the plan, explaining, ' Where that cross is you will find the tent. • Look woll round the shaft. Yon will find a lot of things there that might be useful.' He made another mark on the plan, showing this shaft. I thanked him and went out, taking the plan with mc ; but when I could not find anything of consequence I threw the paper away. (The plan itself was produced by the police and identified.) 1 went out and found a cap and a shirt (produced). There were some other thiugs there, but of no value to mc. I didn't find the I found some sas.ar and sonic candles. Then I had a swim in the lagoon and left." It is supposed that Butler gave Farrell the plan referred to so that if the murder was discovered suspicion might be diverted upon the latter. SOME RUMOURS. The air is thick, says the Sydney Telegraph, with rumours of other men missing in the mountains. It is known that Butler, the supposed murderer, arrived here in August last from West Australia, but the knowledge that he has evinced of the mountain country shows that he must have been in the locality before. Three or four men have been missed from the deviation works at Glenbrook, and there are those who incline to the opinion that he was employed there or had become acquainted in some way or other with them. At all events, say the people, men have disappeared and have never been heard of. There are other rumours respecting men who have disappeared more recently. One man is said to have gone in the direction of Bathurst with someone, who, of course, answers the description of Butler. Tke two were driving a waggonette, and the vehicle was left in the forest for months, if, indeed, it is not there now, while the men have gone no one knows whither. There is a possibility that some steps will be taken to prove the truth or otherwise of this story.