THE GLBNBROOK MURDERS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCVII, Issue 11231, 31 March 1897, Page 5

THE GLBNBROOK MURDERS.

[Pub Press Association.} DETAILS OF BUTLER'S LIFE. SYDNEY, March 30. The Crown Law Department has received from Captain Lees, chief of the San Francisco detectives, a lengthy statement with reference to Butler’s career. As the result of extended inquiries from former shipmates who identified him, it is gathered that Butler, as Richard Ashe, joined H.M.S. Sultan at Portsmouth in January, 1882, and was with the Mediterranean fleet at the bombardment of Alexandria. After returning to Portsmouth, and still under the name of Ashe, he joined the warship Liffcy, which, from 1883 to 1886, was stationed on the coast of Chili. He is supposed to have deserted there in 1885, for Captain Lees discovered that he joined the North-west Mounted Police in Canada. In July of the same year, as John M'Knight, he joined the United States cavalry stationed at Fort Walla Walla, hut deserted in September, 1886. In February, 1887, as George Anderson, he enlisted as a private at the Vancouver Barracks in the second regiment of cavalry, hut iu May, 1887, he again deserted. Under the names- of Neuman, Ashe and Weller there are traces of his career as a seaman on various ships, and wanderings in America as already known, up to the time of the arrival of the Swanhilda. Captain Lees points out that in his investigations the name Ashe most frequently occurs, and he believes this to he the man’s true name. He ascertained that Butler is a West of England man, and adds that his enlistments in -the American army are verified by letters from headquarters.