Frank Butler built a cult following after an international manhunt over three murders

Frank Butler signed autographs, sold merchandise and gave paid interviews all while under arrest for three brutal murders. LISTEN TO THE PODCAST

Serial killer Frank Butler led Australian police on a manhunt to San Francisco. Picture: Courtesy of Michael Adams

Australia’s first celebrity serial killer was a master manipulator who built a cult following.

Frank Butler gave paid interviews, posed for portraits, made sound recordings and flogged merchandise, while his followers eagerly awaited each new instalment in the unfolding saga.

Butler’s story is told in a new episode of the free In Black and White podcast on Australia’s forgotten characters:

His story has been uncovered by the host of the Forgotten Australia podcast, Michael Adams, whose latest book, Hanging Ned Kelly, tells the story of hangman Elijah Upjohn.

Butler’s bizarre story unfolded 126 years ago, but Adams says it’s like something straight out of the Netflix era.

“Frank Butler was selling merch, he was selling cigars, he was selling autographs, he was giving press interviews for which he was being paid, he was even making some of the earliest sound recordings, reading articles about himself for ultimate narcissism,” Adams says.

In Sydney, a “Panthoscope” show with projected images was staged on Boxing Day 1896 about “The Blue Mountains Mystery”.

“People flocked to see this thing about his crimes, his times, and this was while the actual case and manhunt was still in progress,” Adams says.

Frank Butler killed three prospectors in the Blue Mountains. Picture: Justice and Police Museum

An article from The San Francisco Chronicle about the manhunt for Butler.

“So in a way it was like Serial or Teacher’s Pet, the story was being told through pop culture before it was even finished.”

Born John Newman in England in 1858, Butler served in the Royal Marines, then sailed to the US, enlisted in the Cavalry, deserted, went to Canada, became a Mountie, got fired, joined the Canadian army, deserted again, returned to the US, joined the army, and deserted again.

In 1896 in Australia, Frank Butler went on three prospecting expeditions in the Blue Mountains with an unsuspecting new mate – and each time returned alone.

Butler fled on a ship to San Francisco and thought he had got off scot-free, but two bodies turned up days later, both shot in the back of the head.

The San Francisco Chronicle showed some of Frank Butler’s prison cell visitors in 1897.

Historian Michael Adams, host of podcast Forgotten Australia.

Hanging Ned Kelly.

About 500 morbid onlookers watched on, amid a picnic-like atmosphere, as police dug up the second victim, Lee Weller, whose identity Butler had stolen.

Two Australian policemen took a steamer to San Francisco in time for his arrival.

The race to catch Butler became a sensation in the US newspapers, amid fears Butler had murdered the crew of his ship.

Police posed as customs agents to board the ship, and Butler was arrested.

While held in a cell, Butler was put on display for the press and public, and began his rise to fame.

Eventually, he was returned to Sydney, and met his fate before a hangman known as “Nosey Bob”.

To learn more, listen to the interview in the In Black and White podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or web.

See In Black & White in the Herald Sun newspaper Monday to Friday for more stories and photos from Victoria’s past.