ensland. But the Butler who
stood in the dock of the Brisbane Criminal Court was very different
from the Butler who had successfully defended himself at Dunedin and
Melbourne. The spirit had gone out of him; it was rather as a suppliant,
represented by counsel, that he faced the charge of murder. His attitude
was one of humble and appropriate penitence. In a weak and nervous voice
he told the story of his hardships since his release from his Victorian
prison; he would only urge that the shooting of Mr. Munday was
accidental, caused by Munday picking up a stone and attacking him. When
about to be sentenced to death he expressed great sorrow and contrition
for his crime, for the poor wife and children of his unfortunate victim.
His life, he said, was a poor thing, but he would gladly give it fifty
times over.

The sentence of death was confirmed by the Executive on June 30. To
a Freethought advocate who visited him shortly before his execution,
Butler wrote a final confession of faith: "I shall have to find my way
across the harbour bar without the aid of any pilot. In these matters
I have for many years carried an exempt flag, and, as it has not been
carried through caprice or ignorance, I am compelled to carry it to the
last. There is an impassable bar of what I honestly believe to be the
inexorable logic of philosophy and facts, history and experience of the
nature of the world, the human race and myself, between me and the
views of the communion of any religious organisation. So instead of the
'depart Christian soul' of the priest, I only hope for the comfort and
satisfaction of the last friendly good-bye of any who cares to give it."

From this positive affirmation of unbelief Butler wilted somewhat at the
approach of death. The day before his execution he spent half an hour
playing hymns on the church organ in the prison; and on the scaffold,
where his agitation rendered him almost speechless, he expressed his
sorrow for what he had done, and the hope that, if there were a heaven,
mercy would be shown him.

M. Derues

The last word on Derues has been said by M. Georges Claretie in his
excellent monograph, "Derues L'Empoisonneur," Paris. 1907. There is a
full account of the case in Vol. V. of Fouquier, "Causes Celebres."

I

THE CLIMBING LITTLE GROCER

M. Etienne Saint-Faust de Lamotte, a provincial nobleman of ancient
lineage and moderate health, ex-equerry to the King, desired in
the year 1774 to d