THE DEBTOR “WANTED” IN TASMANIA.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4269, 25 November 1874, Page 3

THE DEBTOR “WANTED” IN TASMANIA.

(From the Launceston Examiner.) For some days past various rumors 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 answer 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 iu point of fact he was not traced beyond JBrisbaue-street, Hobart Town, although it will be remembered the Natal Queen sailed on the day White arrived in Hobarton, and a boat containing detectives aud others went in pursuit, but had to give up aud return to town in consequence of a breeze arising, and the Natal Queen got out to sea. The rumor to which we refer is that White found his way to New South Wales, and finally got away iu a ship to California. Yesterday the rumor 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 U pon :—White, disguised as he was, succeeded in reaching Brum Island iu a whaleboat, 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 ; aud it is now pretty certain that he embarked in the London ship Ziba, Captain J. Croot, which cleared at Hobarton, 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 sailed about that time. The probability is that the Vavuna was the ship, as that sailed for San Francisco on the ICth. Two other ships left Newcastle for the same destination a few days afterwards, viz., the Portia on the 20th, and the Garrick Castle on the 21st. However, as the Varuna was the first departure after the Ziba’s arrival, it is likely she took the runaway. (From the Hobarton correspondent of the Melbourne Aryus.) I am sorry to say that the outcome of events has not tended to raise the character of commercial morality in Launceston. Somehow an amount of half a million has been contracted by traders, or persons acting under that character, who have literally nothing to show for it. If the debtors are really as completely cleaned out as they represent themselves to be, and the creditors have suffered as severely as they say, the outside public may well ask where has the money gone; and our good name requires that, in the absence of a more satisfactory answer than has yet been received, the debtors should be dealt with as rogues till they prove that a leas harsh name would describe their conduct. And somehow public opinion here has come to the conclusion that some of those bemoaning their loss would come out of an inquiry with leas credit than would the debtors. There has been evinced an anxiety to stifle inquiry that is inconsistent with the conduct of men conscious of having acted honestly and honorably. Mr. Moton Moss’s indomitable tenacity in the examination of White would appear to have struck terror into the hearts of some of that worthy’s creditors—acting, of course, in the capacity of friends. So little relished was the questioning to which White was subjected that it was proposed to buy off Mr. Moton Moss’s opposition. That gentleman was saved temptation. and possibly lost a handsome composition, by the ill-timed intimation that Mr. P. O. Fysh, Colonial Treasurer, himself a large creditor, gave to some of the contributing creditors, that they had better save their money, as, if Mr. Moss’s proceedings fell through, he (Mr. Fysh) would institute criminal proceedings against White for conduct as to the criminality of which there was no doubt. It is a pity Mr. Fysh made known his intentions till after these gentlemen had parted with their money. However, they were saved adding to their losses by such considerate care for Mr. White, who declined tho further attentions of the Police Magistrate by absconding under circumstances that left no' doubt his escape was maturely planned, and carried out with considerable disregard of expenses. Though efforts are being made to catch him and bring him back, tho skill and liberal expenditure that managed his escape, will doubtless keep him out of the hands of anxious inquirers. We have, at any rate, one consolation—Tasmania will not be a third time the scene of operations on his part that he has designated as the conflict of brains against capital. It would appear, however, that the people of Launceston are uneasy under the threatened infliction of their commercial atmosphere being purified of the class who fatten moneylenders and feed unlicensed pawnbrokers at the expense of honest men.- The flight of White left no hope of an exposure of how such wholesale plundering of unsuspecting creditors had been carried on, except under the examination in the Bankruptcy Court of Messrs. Peters and Barnard. The probable inconvenience to certain persons of such an examination led to a strenuous effort to take the affairs out of the court, and Mr. Fysh, who has been a stumbling-block in the way of these “ keep quiet ” gentlemen, was sought to bo first cajoled, then frightened into accepting a composition. He was firm, aud the required majority in numbers could not bo obtained. Mr. Fysh was appointed with Mr. Horne interim receiver, the stock advertised for sale, and preparations made for a searching examination of the insolvents, wheu suddenly small creditors found their claims had acquired increased value, 10s. per £ having been the purchase price of claims on which a composition of only 2s. was offered. Money was evidently no object. Tho majority in numbers, as well as in amount, was obtained, and Mr. Fysh was superseded as a receiver. Our commercial circles will again include traders who earned on business on fictitious accept-

ances, and there will remain unexposed the conduct of those who advanced money at an exorbitant rate of interest that would make usurers stare, on the deposit of goods, not once a mouth or at intervals when a “ turn 1 might be understood, if not quite justifiable, but almost daily, the goods having often been conveyed direct from on board ship to the Moneylender's stores. It is whispered that the At-torney-General is reading up authorities to ascertain whether he cannot place some of the Launceston pledgers of other men’s goods, and some of those who aided and abetted them, on trial for conspiring to } defraud the owners of the goods. Should lie do so, he will deserve the thanks of all right-thinking men, and reHeve Tasmania of a stigma that it can ill afford to lie under.