ESCAPE OF A DEFAULTER.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 144, 18 November 1874, Page 3

ESCAPE OF A DEFAULTER.

The Launceston Examiner of the 3rd of November says:—" For some days past various rumours have been rife as to the escape of W. W. White, who, it will be remembered, failed to appear at the police court on the 2nd of October, to auswer the charge pending against him by Mr Moton Moss. The evidence was pretty conclusive that White left the colony, and it was generally supposed by the Natal Queen, Captain Gourlay, bound for Lyttelton, New Zealand ; but, in point of fact, he was not traced beyond Brisbane street, Hobart Town, although it will be remembered the Natal Queen sailed on the day White arrived in Hobart Town, and a boat containing detec ives and others were in pursuit, but had to give up and return to town, in consequence of a breeze arising, and the Natal Queen got out to sea. The rumour to which we refer is that White found his way to Newcastle, New South Wales, and finally got away in a ship to California. Yesterday the rumour took a more definite shape, and although we are not in a position to mention particulars upon authority, we believe the following may be relied upon :—White, disguised as he was, succeeded in reaching Bruni Island in a whale boat, intending to board the Natal Queen as she was proceeding to the Heads. It is supposed that the boat with the police in, being descried, prevented White's intention from being carried into effect ; and it is now pretty certain that he embarked in the London ship Ziba, Captain J. Croot, which cleaved at Hobart Town in ballast, for Newcastle, N.S.W., on the 7th October, and arrived at Newcastle on the 13th. The name of the vessel in which White finally left the Australian shores, is variously given, the Adelaide being definitely mentioned; but on referring to the files we do not see that a vessel of that name sailcl about that time. The probability is that the Varuna was the ship, as that sailed for San Francisco on the 16th. Two other ships left Newcastle for the same destination a few days afterwards, namely, the Portia on the 20th, and the Carrick Castle on the 21st. However, as the Varuna was the first departure after the Zibu'd arrival, it is likey she took th? runaway.