BUTLER.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 10657, 10 July 1897, Page 3

BUTLER.

PARTICULARS OF HIS CAREER. [PBB PBEBS ASSOCIATION— COPTBIOHI.] SYDNEY, Friday, A resident of Newcastle has received a letter from a friend la Staffordshire, England, acquainted with Butler's family. He states that Bailer's real name is John Newman. Tbe oondemned man has three brothers holding responsible positions in England. The letter states that John Newman was regarded as the black sheep !of the family. At an earl; age he ran away from home. His relatives made frequent endeavors to induce him to reform, The letter bears oat a number of the pattloalars of the story told by Batler at San Franolaoo in referenoe to his oareer Id the aim; and navy.

If a statement made by Butler that bis name la John Newman, and hla birthplaoa a well' known village In England, be correct, then bla early hletory la well known. The family consisted of four eons nnd two daughters, all of whom are Id good positions except (hit) notorious one. The father died many years ago, Che bod has several larpe business establishmoots, and la one of duo most roepoobed gentlemen Id the borough, Two other brothers are to Ameilca, ono being a wellknown mlalster, and people who have heard him preach at the cbapel, where the whole family at ono time attended, tpesk of him as btlog a most eloqnent preacher. John Newman, as a lad, was a regnhr attendant at SnDday-school, and one of bU old teaoheiß ipeaka of him at v youth fond of fan and frolio, bntj there was nothing to indlote that he would ever lend a wild and reckless life. In fact, he was not regarded by bin Sunday-school toschers as anything different from bis other brothers, who have grown np respectable merobera of society. One old family have sons who were companions of John Newman bfter he left tobool, and one of theee went as a soldier aboub the same time aa John Newman left hU mother's roof. Newrniti la said to have always exhibited' a disposition to rove about the oouutry in preference toaetbllng down to any business, As a yonth in bla teens he was frequently getting into little lorapes, and Is said to have been moat reckless In bis manner. It was a great grlet to his mother when he enlisted for a soldier, und ever eince, it would appear, he has been a sonrco of constant anxiety to his relatives and frleudu, althon^b bo has never brought any trouble upon thorn, While in the army John Newmnn was awarded a medal fur gallant conduot in the Zulu war in 1878 79 Strange to say, he was never seen near bb home wearing Ms regimentals, and when he visited bin old friends aod relative* be seldom acquainted them with what be had beou doing or intended to do in (he future,

Those who saw him on his vitlts, whlcl were always at intervals of font or five years, epenk of bis rongh - and ■ ready manner, different from tbe other members of tbe family : bnt this was naturally attributed to tbe wandering life be had been leading. Id li well known that Newman served In the Egyptian war, and earned dfablnotlon ) bat It is not known locally that he ever deserted, or that ho subsequently joined the United Stateß army, although it Is believed that he went to Amerioi, It is also known that he went ti Canada, and afterwards to Australia ; bat his movements were known to no one in the district, although It was known that he was Interested la mining operations in Auitralla. There ate numerous points of similarity between descriptions of the man Batter in onstody and John Newman, it Is a very singular thing that most of the names be la said to have assumed were well- known names In bis native town, Butler, for Instance/is a very common one, and there was a family of Batters well known In the neighborhood, and this may account for his having sesnmed tbe name of Bntlor in Australia. Bargees, Asho, and Harwood are also well-known local names. There are other matters whioh aeem to oonneot Butler .with John Newman. So far as popular Impressions are of any value In saoh a matter 16 may be said that all the old Inhabitants, who knew John Newman well, are inollned to associate him with the man In onstody. The other members of the family, as has been already remarked, are highly esteemed everywhere, being characterised tor their generoelby and goodness, and the eroatest postible sympathy la felt for them on every hand. — EoßlUh Provincial Eibhange.