THE MOUNTAIN MURDERER.

Hastings Standard, Issue 238, 4 February 1897, Page 3

THE MOUNTAIN MURDERER.

;■■■:.'itTlli-:ii I'A 1.1 TLCULA US A LTOUS ANI) GOOD SAILOR. "INNOCENT UNTIL PLOYED GUILTY." ' l'i i I'n-xx Axxo'-iatiim. —' ''i[it/ritf/it. f New York, Feb. 2. Later particulars of the arrest show that the detectives, who had for some time beon cruising off the Golden (hate on the look out for the Swanhilda, boarded the vessel and found J hitler, who was immediately taken «>horo. San Fuaxcisco, Fob. #5. ButLr smoked cigarettes while going ashore. The captain says he was very quiet and pious on the voyage, and the best sailor on the ship. Tit: l extradition papers have been submkud to the proper authorities, and tiie prisoner will probably return to Sydney by the Monowai ou Saturday. His kit contained Captain Lee Weller's jewellery and shipping discharges, Mr S. \\"oiler's portrait, liarwood's chemi-try diploma, Preston's coat and vest, a pocket-book with the initials " 11.A." and two sovereigns. Butler states that he left San Francisco for Australia four years atro as a seaman on the Star of Russia. He admits being a-hamed of taking "teller's name, but declines to admit he was acquainted with him. Ho declares that his name is Elgan and is amused at the position, remarking that he is innocent until proved guilty. He was wearing Weller's boots when arrested. Etta liutler, of Napa, claims Butler as her deserting husband. Later. When the tug sent to tow in the Swaiihilda signalled that Butler was actually on board, the detective and a number of new-paper reporters put out in the Government revenue cutter and met the vessel at Fort Point, at the right entrance to the Golden Gate. On the previous evening when the pilot cutter appeared, I oilier asked the captain to slow the vessel down, as he expected important letters from Australia. When the cutter got alongside, Butler called out to the pilot, "Is it so, ' Yes ' or ' No,' " but the pilot failed to understand the question. Upon boarding the vessel the pilot informed Captain Eraser that the police wished to quietly secure a man who shipped under tlie name of Wcller. Previous to this the captain had not a suspicion who Butler was. The pilot had been informed by the police of the plan to be adopted for effecting Butler's arrest, and he conveyed it to the c-aptian. Part of the police rushed him in order to capture the nam without disturbance. When the boat with the quarantine officers came alongside the Swanhilda there wns on board a detachment of plain clothes police, and Detectives Roache and Mc-Hattie, and Constable C'onroy, According to prearrangernent. Captain Fraser, when the crew of the ship were ranged up on deck for medical inspection, he indicated Butler by standing in front of him, one of the local police at once covered Butler with a revolver and ordered him to throw up his hands, which he immediately did, and Mc-Hattie and Conrov, having identified Butler, he was pinioned, handcuffed and taken ashore to gaol. Butler said he was entirely innocent, and although considerably taken aback when arrested he quickly regained his composure and treated the whole matter with remarkable coolness. While he was in custody Butler admitted that he was obliged to leave Australia, and later on inadvertently remarked that he knew Lee Weller very well. Butler was carefully searched and several packages containing strychninepowder were found in his posses-ion.