THE ABSCONDER MACDONALD.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 55, 10 February 1872, Page 4

THE ABSCONDER MACDONALD.

The following particulars in relation to the recent absconding of one Macdonald, from Auckland, are taken from a late issue of the " Southern Cross:—Anxious enquiries were made on Saturday morning for John Macdonald, a young man who has for several months past occupied the position of confidential clerk and book-keeper to Mr R. Somerville, manager of the Thames and other goldmining companies. Equally anxious enquiries were made for a young Hdy who has ably presided at a well-known city bar, dispensing the liquor thereat, and at the same time charming the " spoons" of the town by her fascinating glances. Up to a late hour last night, the inquiries for these parties were unsatisfied, and it is generally believed that, having united their fortunes, they departed from this quarter of the globe in the steamship Nebraska early on Saturday morning. Macdonald was noted for his stately and dignified bearing, his staid black coat, and " correct" appearance. He was altogether highly favored in personal attractions, and would therefore under any circumstances have proved a loss to the community ; but his sudden departure is likely to be doubly felt from the fact that he has taken with him £5lB, the property of various companies managed by Mr Sonimerville. He had received notice to leave Mr Sommerville's employ on the Saturday, and on Friday evening he delivered up the safe key. Nothing was suspected to be wrong, and therefore no search was made on Saturday morning, when, there being no appearance on the part of Macdonald, the safe was opened and a deficit of £5lB discovered. It had been the custom of the office to place all small amouuts of money received for calls and dividends into one bag, and this was kept in the safe until the money was banked. On Friday this bag contained a large sum of money, arising chiefly from calls paid on account of Junction shares, and business transacted in connection with the Thames Goldmining Company. On Saturday morning the bag was found to have been emptied and stuffed with paper. A cheque for £l4l, paid to the Thames Goldmining Co., as a dividend arising from the liquidation of the Poverty and Charleston, had been given in the early part of the week to Macdonald to bank. Instead, however, of placing it to the credit of the company, it appears he turned it into gold, and rendered no account of it. Another clerk in the office had met Macdonald on the wharf about 6 o'clock on Friday evening, and had arranged with him to be down early on the following (Saturday) morning to settle up accounts before taking over the books. At the time his fellow-clerk met him, Macdonald ' was quietly smoking, and talked of the morrow, as though the idea of leaving town was the very last thing in his thoughts. When he failed to present himself in the morning a messenger was sent up to his lodgings, and was informed by the landlady that Mr Macdonald had gone to the North Shore on the previous evening and had not returned. We believe that, at the time H. V. Stevens levanted, Macdonald copied the correspondence which passed between counsel relative to the possibility of bringing that individual back, and it appeared from the advice then given that the working of the extradition treaty involved such an amount of trouble and expense as to make it almost inoperative. No doubt Macdonald laid to heart these facts, and felt secure in the course he was following, as the hour at which the Nebraska left rendered it improbable that he would be detected in Auckland. During the whole of Friday Mr Somerville had been engaged at mining meetings during the day, and could not consequently personally supervise the business of the office, thus affording ample opportunity for any irregularity. The lady, we learn, only took her fair self away, but she did so in such a cool and philosophical manner as to command the admiration of her fellows and to redeem the fair sex from the accusation of being unable to keep a secret. She performed all her accustomed duties until the bar closed at 11 o'clock at night. She then partook of supper, after which, wishing her friends good night, she left the house, no doubt joining Macdonald outside, and proceeding with him on board.