THE CHASE FOR BUTLER.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 7977, 1 February 1897, Page 4

THE CHASE FOR BUTLER.

DISQIIETING INTELLIGENCE.

WILL HE GET CLEAR AFTER ALL?

[PSB SBEBB AB3OCIATIOS.—COPYBIOHT.]

San Francisco, January :50.

The ship Burmas, which left Newcastle on November 17th, has arrived at San Francisco. The members of the crew state that the Swanhilda's crew are a hard lot. Four had been imprisoned while the vessel was lying at Newcastle, and were only released in time to join her before sailing. One was sent to gaol for striking Captain Fraser in the street. The majority of the crew state that mutiny raged during most of the time the Swanhilda was in port, the police having to quell numerous disturbances on the decks between the officers and men. The Burmas's crew allege that it only needed a leader to make the Swanhilda a floating hell. Sybnev, January 31. The sea chest of Captain Lee Weller (one of Butler's victims), containing a quantity of his late wife's belongings, hae been discovered in a second-hand shop in the city. The owner of the shop stated that he purchased it from a man whom he recognised as Butler eight or ten weeks ago. A man who refuses to give his name say 3 that he advertised for a partner to go prospecting ; Butler answered the advertisement, and they leEt Sydney together on September loth. They went to Grafton, where a party of five formed a prospecting expedition. On the second day out Butler on the strength of an alleged discovery of good stone tried to induce him to leave hia companions, who, learning of his overtures, compelled Butler to leave the camp. Before he went he again tried to induce him to go on a shooting expedition. Butler boasted that he had just returned from a back range, where he had made important discoveries, and had refused £2000 for a share in the mine.