VAN DIEMEN’S LAND.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VIII, Issue 686, 28 February 1852, Page 3

VAN DIEMEN’S LAND.

Meagher.—lt is now currently reported [that ibis individual has succeeded in escapirtg from the colony. As far as we have been labie to learn them, the following are the circumstances which enabled him to elude the authorities: —On his first arrival here, it may Je remembered, he accepted a ticket-of leave under enlarged indulgencies, and gave his parole that he would not make use of the i city thus allowed him to make his escape. ns <icket-of-leave and pledge of honor was given for six months. At the expiration of lus time he gave an unqualified promise that e would not attempt to escape so long as e held a ticket-of-leave. On the 3rd instant he addressed a letter to Mr. Mason, the Police . agistrale of Campbell Town, stating his intention of resigning his ticket-of-leave, and *t rawing his parole twelve hours after the a eo the letter. Steps were immediately : en to arrest him, but on the arrival of the onsta es in the evening of the same day, ey ound he bad not waited even for the piratton of the twelve hours mentioned in el . ter, J )Ut l |a( l ridden off in company with _ era other persons. This being what we •ath 676 / 0 aCts , * le case » we are , er SUr P ri . sed t 0 learn from some of our iio em I )orar ' es '-bat Meagher had not broken e ' • We can sa y is ’ l * iat - iad an irq V’ 3 l )r ' soner w ar, acted as Meagher ore I °f ne ’' le W ° U 'd l ,ave been at once cash, tend ° r conduct unbecoming an officer or a he eman ’ atl( l would have for ever forfeited considerations due to a man of honour, ase COl | tcm l )orar * es appear to forget, that in all 8 w iere a parole is given, there are two r les to *be agreement,—one who is released 11 control in consequence of a promise I—--0 cr who releases him ; and there is no

matter more clearly understood among honor* able men than the obligation which binds a man who has received such an indulgence to restore him to the condition from which he was relieved, before he can withdraw his parole. Independent, however, of this, and looking at the matter in a mere technical point of view, it is clear that Meagher promised not to attempt to escape so long as he had a ticket of leave. It is also equally cleat that he still holds his ticket of Leave, and might, until the withdrawal of such an indulgence be gazetted, plead his claim to all the privileges connected with it ; and he has, therefore, been guilty ol a flagrant breach of the engagements under which he has been enjoying comparative freedom for nearly two years.— Hobart Town Advertiser, January 13.