THE GLENBROOK MURDERS. BUTLER ATTEMPTS TO COMMIT SUICIDE. New York, April 3.

Otago Witness, Issue 2249, 8 April 1897, Page 16

THE GLENBROOK MURDERS. BUTLER ATTEMPTS TO COMMIT SUICIDE. New York, April 3.

Sensational reports have been received from San Fraccisco that Butler, who is awaiting extradition to Sydney for the Glenbrook murders, attempted to commit suicide. The warders hearing a peculiar noise in the cell found Butler sitting with his arms restiDg on a table almost, covered with blankets, and his face all bloody. It was discovered that with his thumb nail he bad made a ragged incision half an inch long near the temporal artery. The doctor considnrß the results would have been serious if he had correctly located the artery. Batlpr has recovered from the effects of the wound. In consequence of this attempt increased vigilance is* being exercised by those in charge of the prisoner. San Fea.>- Cisco, April 4. After the attempt at suicide Butler confessed to killing Preston in self- defence. Sydney, March 30. Tho Crown Law department has recf.ved from Captain Lees, chief of tho S<w Francisco defectives, a lengthy statement in reference to Butler's career. As tbe result of inquiries gathered from former shipmates who identified him it. appears tbat Batler, a« Rxhard ABhe, joined H.M.S. Saltan at Portsmouth in January ISB2, was with the Mediterranean fleet at" the bombardment of Alexandria, and after returning to Portsmouth, still under the name of Ashe, joined ihe warship Liffey, which from ISB3 to 18SG was stationed on the coast ot Chili. He is supposed to have deserted there, aB in 1885 Captain Lses discovered tbat he joined the North-west Mounted Police in Canada. In July of the same year, as John M KnJght, he joined tho United States cavalry, stationed at Foil Walla Walla, but drserted in September, 1886. In Fsbruary, 1887, as George Anderson, he enlisted as a private at Vancouver barracks in thn Spcond ltegiment of cavalry, but in May, 1887, he again deserted. Under the names of Neumen, A6he, and Waller, the detective traces his career as a seaman on various shine and his wanderinao in America, as already known, up to the time of the arrival of the Swanhilda. Captain Lees points cut in his investigations that the name of Asne most frequently occurs, and he beliovea this to be the prisoner's true name. It was ascertained tbat Butler is a West of England man, and his enlistments in the American army are verified by letters from headquarters.