GLENBROOK MURDERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2242, 18 February 1897, Page 15

GLENBROOK MURDERS.

I • i BUTLER STILL COM.MUNTI CATLVE. \ A HITCK IN "BUTLER'S EXTRADITION. San Fiuncisco, February 8. ; Butier told CoiibtabJe Oonroy that two j men forced him to accept part of Lee i Weller's helongiegs. He offers to fcuxn ! I informer If his Assistance is accepted to j ! capture these men. February 9. In the course of an interview Captain I Fraser, of the Swanhilda, stated that he had ; leceived a report, from the captain of the ! ! Taupo that B inter was on board, and was i anxious lest he should incite the orew to i mutiny or fire the vessel. The chief, officer ,of the Swanhilda watched Batler closely throughout the voyage, and found that he worked well and was thoroughly cognibanfc of ; his duties. No idea of the, information received from the captain of the Taopo was : conveyed T to Batler, who was led to believe j that her ''report had reference to the disi ooveryof new shoals. Butler often displayed i women's jewellery, and had in his possession ; a song book with the name Mrs Weller in- } j scribed in it. Butler was rebuked for swearing at the ; taaejiHlrate at the hearing of the applica-;:-.a for his extradition, which was further a tj<. urned. February 10. . Bufeler has admitted that he went under the name of Riohard Ache He declared that H%rwood is living in London today, but he did not intend to fcell why^he had ; a«6umed Harwood's name. He had a dozen • aiiaßOP, some of which he hud forgotten. I Early, in 1895 he want, to Africa, and afterwards returned to Australia. He said: ! " I can prove I was not in Australia when | some of the murders charged against me ■ were committed." He said that his family lived near Hull, but he refused to say where. Batier was completely stunned on being accused of tha murder of Preston. A newspaper containing detailt) of thin murder was produced, and the accused was astouuded. Constable Conroy explained how direct evidence was obtained of Captain Lee Weller and Butler having gone to the mountains together unaccompanied by a j , third person. j Etta Batlar, of Napa, who claimed the i accused as her husband, now admits her mistake. February 11. Batler has been identified by Captain Jones as a sailor who was ou board the Flintshire in 1890 under the name of 1 Richard P&scoe. I The British Consul aud Captain Frastr having signed Butler's discharge-papers from the Swanhilda under the name of Waller, his attorneys now claim that he ie Weller, and demand that applicants for his extradition shall prove the contrary. Butler now claims that he is Weller, and fears are gaining ground that the police cannot prove that he is not Weller. February 12. j The British Consul here has filed a charge j against Butler of murdering Preston, and has | asked for his extradition on that charge as , well as of murdering Weller. The attorney for the prosecution naked that the charges be ' heard conjointly, aud presented evidence j given in New South Wales and certified to by a Sydney magistrate. The court officials retain possession of Butler's effects. February 13. Butler will be arraigaed on the charge of murdering Preston on Monday. He denies that the cheque book found amougrt his ■ luggage belonged to Weller, but *r.his i% ! proved by Miss Conroy's narns written therein by herself. Butler states that he became possessed of Weller's goods because it was the custom to divide a dead miner's belongings among his comrades. He used Wellei's name on the papers to Captain I Fraser when ha asked to be allowed to work I his passage, as Captain Fraser required to see j nis sailor's discharge. An affidavit has been sworn by Mr Elliot, i engineer of tha Moaowai, denying Butler's I assertion that he is Weller. Elliot states I that he knew Weller intimately. Detective ■ Roche refuses to verify the rumour in circulation that he has sent the names to Sydney of two men alleged to be Butler's partners in the murders. j Pbbth, F§brnary 9. ■ The nolice have identified Batler as a man

who, undur the nume or Ashe, was s^rutiucdu to 18 months on a charge of having stolen property in his-posst'ssion. While he waR awaiting trial Ashe told Sergeant Gee ho had lain at a ntreet corner all one night with a revolver, intending to shool him whe'a he i passed, but Gee did not come that night.