Untitled

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 113, 14 May 1868, Page 2

The Eveniog Post says a clever capture of an ab a conder from Melbourne was effected on Thursday last, by police-sergeant Monaghan. It appears that a person named George Spencer Compton, who was employed as clerk iu the Australasian Insurance Company, Melbourne, had embezzled moneys of the company. The offender left Melbourne by steamer Claud Hamilton, on the 21st ult., which arrived at Wellington on the 2ud inst. In consequence of a communication received at the Wellington police-office, from Sydney, containing a telegram from Melbourne, giving the description, of the offender, search was immediately made for the absconder, which resulted in his capture on board the ship Leichardt, on the eve of sailing for London. The Paris Illustration contains a good story, which is a lesson to the young who imagine success in life to be the result of mere lack. General Lefebvre, as is well known, enlisted in a regiment of the Line, and ended his career as Marshal Duke of DrtQtzick. An old comrade congratulated him in a sneering tone on his high position. ' Yes,' said Lefebvre, ' I am Duke of Dantzick (he never spelt his Duchy correctly). lam marshal, while you are clerk ; but if you wish to change places with me, I will accept the bargain at cost price. Do you know how many gunshots I have been exposed to before I won my epaulettes ? — 20,000. I have heard more cannon roar than there are stitches in my uniform. I will just place you in the court-yard of my hotel, and expose you to the chance of 20,000 shot and shell, Jat a hundred paces. If you escape, well, you shall have my sabre, plume, scarf, and orders — every one of them shall be yours/ No fear of the clerk accepting the offer, as I need not remark. Syduey Smith, calling one day upon a fellow contributor to the 'Edinburgh Review,' found him reading a book preparatory to writing a critique on it, ami expostulated with him. * Why, how do you manage ? ' asked his friend. * I never,' said the wit, ' read a book before reviewing it ; it prejudices one so.' )