A DUNEDIN CELEBRITY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2218, 27 April 1880, Page 2

A DUNEDIN CELEBRITY.

Butler is a cadcrvcrous - looting croalurc, with dirt}' leadcn-liucd complexion—which might take on an additional pallor but would hardly Hush with color—shallow blue eyes, and a thin fringe of hay colored moustaehe. His forehead and chin fall away rapidly from the salient promontory- of his nose. His checks are drawn in, apparently by nerrous contraction, and the centres of depression have a twitching motion unpleasant to sec. He is long necked, the “Adams apple” prominent in the throat—narrow chested, spare of build and limb, below middle height, and, though probably agile, possesses little physical force. An Otago policeman might tuck him under his arm. Ho is 28 years of age and looks 85. Ifc is dressed in darkish clothes, wears a white shirt with half-folded collar, and looks a cross between a shabby pickpocket and an evangelical cordwaiuer. ‘ Light-lingercd ” might very well describe Butler’s manipulation of his notes. They were in loose sheets, which he produced from lime to lime from behind liini with a quick furtive movement of the hands. His left hand shows deep scratches. After the second

day’s proceedings lie ploughed it up with "a pin to show one of the doctors how he could produce the blood spots. His manner in addressing the Court is quiet, self-restrained, deferential. He speaks with great deliberation, in a roice meant for the jury alone, often pauses, shades his with his left hand, and taps the desk nervously with a pencil. He is a little foggy about the use of the aspirate, occasionally employe a grotesque illustration, but otherwise speaks intelligently and well,and makes some of his points —as for instance, when reminding the jury of their responsibility—with undoubted impressiveness. All theories respecting his guilt or innocence in the murder apart, Butler is to me a riddle which at present I can’t guess., Notwithstanding his antecedents, his general view of life, providence, law and morality would do credit to a professor of ethics, and he is as free from cant and false sentiment as—well, as the Editor of the “Echo.” The day following (lie Stamper burglary he spent in practising sacred music which he had stolen from a church the previaus Sunday ! I can’t guess him, but I won’t give him up—nor will the police cither. —Givis in the “ Otago Daily Times.”