THE CAPTURE OF O’FERRALL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4346, 23 February 1875, Page 3

THE CAPTURE OF O’FERRALL.

(From the Melbourne Herald.) A gentleman recently returned from New Caledonia has favored us with the solution of the mystery as to how the whereabouts of O’Ferrall was ascertained by the Melbourne authorities after, he left New Caledonia. It appears that after Detective Maokay returned to Melbourne, having apparently failed in obtaining any clue of the defaulter, a New Zealand detective officer, named O’Brien, was sent to Noumea, who, acting upon certain instructions from the Victorian Government, and being armed with credentials which set forth that he was a traveller in the soft goods line, placed himself in communication with a mercantile firm on the island, from whom he received an introduction to a Mr. O’Beirn, a sheep and cattle farmer, and who was the uncle of O’Ferrall. O'Beim received the detective totally unsuspicious as to his mission, and hospitably invited him to take up his quarters with him during his stay, which offer was embraced by the wily policeman, who appears then to have changed his mind with regard to the soft goods interest, giving out that he intended speculating in nickel mines. With this object in view O’Brien inaugurated a prospecting party, but, being recognised by one of the miners who hailed also from New Zealand, and who challenged him with being a detective, he at the last moment declined forming one of the prospecting party, and pleaded as his excuse that he must remain in town for the purpose of shipping some ore to New,Zealand to have it tested. O’Brien stillremained under the roof of his unsuspecting host, who treated him with lavish hospitality. Failing to worm anything out of O’Beirn, O’Brien turned his attentions to' the chief of police, a man named Tumarac, who appears to have been so much struck by the suaviter in mode of the detective that he invited him to dine with him, and who, upon O’Brien taking his leave, remarked that “It was indeed a treat to-see such a jolly open Irish face.” It is not positively known, but it is shrewdly surmised that it was from this official that O’Brien obtained sufficient information which enabled the Victorian Government to put Detective Callaghan on the sure track of the defaulter. Whether such be the case or not, our informant is positive that Tumarac was not aware that O’Brien was a detective, and if he had been he certainly would not, for the sake of O’Eeirn, who is universally respected throughout the settlement, have divulged the secret of O'Ferrall haring sailed for Batavia. Indeed, it is pretty certain that Tumarac assisted the fugitive in getting away from New Caledonia, as by an 'enactment in force in the island, every person intending to leave the port has to post his name -with the authorities, and receive permission before he can embark.