ARREST OF HEMPTION.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2665, 21 October 1882, Page 3

ARREST OF HEMPTION.

NOT A RUNAWAY, AFTER ALL.

Herman Hempton, about whom a good deal has 1 been -said and written during the last few days, was brought up this morning at the Resident Magistrate’s Court charged with forging and uttering a bill for £248 16j, with intent to defraud one James Martin. The police not being ready to go on with the case, he having been, in fact, brought from the railway train to the dock, he was remanded till Friday next, October 27th. The very wild and somewhat romantic Btories ao to hia evasion, how ho got clear off in at least two steamers, &c., turn out to be wholly inoorreot. From what can be gathered, indeed, Mr Hempton seems to have made no effort to escape, and he must have been lounging about in the neighborhood of the town ever since he was first missed. He wes finally captured in the most simple bnt efficient manner. It appears that Constable G. Oartmili, stationed at Springfield. having received, in common with every other _ officer in charge, an accurate description of Hempton, was, whilo standing at the door of Davis’ Hotel, Malvern, on Friday night, at eight o’clock, struck by the appearance of a man who was also standing there smoking. Having taken a good look the constable went into the hotel to make enquiries. Not finding any one to give him information, be returned to the front, and found the suspect gone. Constable Oartmili having a clear view of the neighborhood, and seeing no signs of his man, stationed a bystander ct the gate, and proceeded to search the yard, &c He was successful, for, seated in a place at the rear was the person who hed attracted his regard*. The constable, presenting lis revolver with one hand, seized |him by Ihe shoulder with the other, saying, “ I arrest yon for forgery and uttering; you are Hempton.” Hempton said, “ Oh, you are mistaken, I 'am not Hempton, my name is Johnson.” The strong Gsrman accent in which these words were spoken, confirmed the suspicions his captor had entertained, and the prisoner was duly conveyed to the lock-up, whence he was brought to town and to the Court by this morning’s train. When placed in the dock, Hempton presented the appearance of a man who had been mnoh harassed. Ho had not made any attempt, by shaving, Ac., to disguise himself, and hi* rather marked features and peculiar appearance must have been quiokly recognised from any tolerably good description of him. No particulars have yet been obtained as to how ho spent his time in the interval from bis disappearance till his capture. It may be as well to mention that his captor was not in uniform when they met.