EMBEZZLEMENT EXTRAORDINARY IN JAPAN.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4488, 7 August 1875, Page 2 (Supplement)

EMBEZZLEMENT EXTRAORDINARY IN JAPAN.

(From the Japan Gazette.) Rumors of a fraud so gigantic and daring as to be almost beyond credit have agitated the public mind of Yokohama, and such was the interest excited that business was, to a large extent, neglected, and the knots of earnest talkers congregated on the Bund and in the principal streets hinted strongly of some occurrence of more than ordinary interest. As soon as business commenced it was whispered that the French Bank—Comptoir D’EsCompte, Paris —had been defrauded to an extent variously stated, ranging between 21,000 and 100,000 dole., by persons employed at its counters, and in the confidence of the manager, M. E. G. Guillemont. On the 10th Inst., more than a week ago, the German schooner Iris, a smart vessel, which had just completed the discharge of a cargo of sugar, consigned to Mr. Knoblauch, was disposed of to Charles Adds, formerly manager of the Grand Hotel billiard room —on account of whom was not stated for 10,000 dols. The vessel was placed under the command of Captain AVithers, a man well known here, formerly master of the steamer AVashi, and she weighed anchor, and left for ports unknown, conveying, it is supposed, V. Cantelli, whilom cashier-accountant of the Comptoir D’Escompte, AY. S. Swaby, subaccountant of the same bank ; Charles Adds, the quasi purchaser of the vessel, and the dollars missing, to an unascertained amount. Her crew was composed of ten Malay men and two Chinese. It may here be mentioned that she carried two small guns, and was well furnished with muskets and ammunition. As soon as it had been ascertained beyond the possibility of doubt that the defalcation was a fact, and that the defaulters had really taken their departure in the vessel, preparations were made for pursuit, and the steamer Seagull was chartered by the manager of the bank to be sent after them, carrying legal authority for their arrest and return to Yokohama. The Seagull, under the charge of a pilot, and conveying Capt. H. Pagden, steamed from the anchoroge at 2.15 p.m., having also on board Mr. F. E. AVhite, British Consular constable, an officer bearing the warrant of the Italian Consul, and a sub-lieutenant and six men of H.B.M.’s corvette Thalia, the commander of which, Captain AVoolcombe, senior naval officer, had placed at the disposal of H.M.’s Consul a portion of the forces under his command. The blue jackets on board were armed, and she carried a nine-pounder rifled gun. The Iris also was armed. On rounding Kanonsaki Point the Iris was observed standing in towards Kaneda Bay, a little distance below the Plymouth Rocks. Seeing some fishing boats very close to her, and thinking that the fugitives might attempt to elude us by reaching the shore, which was at no great distance—say three-quarters of a mile—we put on all steam possible, and hugged the land, to try and cut out any boats going ashore, Two men were stationed with glasses, to watch the ship and the boats, and observe if any one left. Our little vessel went on at an increased speed, although there was a swell rolling in from seaward. As we neared the vessel, when within about twenty yards of her, we observed Swaby and Cantelli standing in the cabin hatchway, watching us very intently, the captain being busy on deck, working the ship, and Adds also watching us through a pair of opera glasses. On their seeing the constable and H.M.’s naval uniforms and the white ensign at the main of the steamer, and thinking, no doubt, that resistance was useless, they disappeared from sight, and the sound of shots was heard to proceed from the cabin of the schooner. When within a few feet of the Iris, the constable and the armed guard sprang on board, and orders were immediately given by Mr. White for the sail to be taken off the schooner, and at the same time he rushed down the companion-ladder, accompanied by one of the seamen, leaving the vessel in command of Captain Pagden. Eight minutes after she was boarded a breeze came from the eastward, and had the pursuers been delayed another thirty minutes there cannot be a doubt that the fugitives would have effected their escape. Captain Pagden.braced up and steered for mid-channel. On proceeding below, it being then 4.40 p.m., a sad spectacle met their view. Immediately in the front of them, lying athwart the cabin, they found Swaby on his left side, groaning and breathing heavily. He had a pistol firmly clenched in his right hand, the fingers still moving, as if trying to fire again. On the opposite side of the saloon, in the foremost cabin, sat Cantelli, with a pistol in his right hand, staring at them, the blood trickling down his face from a wound in his forehead, just above the right eye. The pistols were immediately taken from both, and they were carefully laid out by the seamen. Water was brought, their faces were washed, and efforts were made to restore Cantelli, who did not seem to be so severely wounded as Swaby. The latter expired about two minutes afterwards, and was immediately covered up. On the pistols being examined, it was found that two chambers of Swaby’s pistol had recently been discharged, but only one of Cantelli’s. Cantelli was attended by a seaman until he expired. He would sometimes remain quiet for half-au-hour, then breathe and gurgle in a most awful manner. AA T hile the two men were being attended to below. Adds and the captain (AVithers) were placed at the stem of the vessel, in charge of an armed sentry. The doctor of M.M.S. Thalia, on arrival, pronounced Cantelli as certain to die before midnight, and would not, therefore, advise his removal; this opinion proved to be correct—he expired at 11.40 p.m.. The Iris had been fitted out without regard to expense, and evidently for a long voyage. Although she had only cleared for Manilla, she had on board five sheep, two pigs, a quantity of fresh beef, and about 200 fowls. In the cabin everything had been fitted up with an eye to comfort; the furniture was of the best, and on the poop there were a couple of rattan lounges. She was also tolerably well armed. 0n the cabin table were several revolvers, loaded, and ready for use, and a lot of knives and Japanese short swords. The tranks, carpet-bags, and other luggage of Swaby and Cantelli were examined, and in various places money was found to the amount of 31,337 yen, in 10, 5, and 2 yen gold pieces, besides £4B in English sovereigns. Several 5 and 2 yen gold pieces were also found on the bodies. The whole of the money was taken charge of by Mr. AVhite, who took it ashore and deposited it in the handsof H.B.M.’s Consul. Adds and AVhithers will, no doubt, shortly be tried on the charge of aiding and abetting the escape of Swaby and Cantelli. Whether they are guilty or innocent remains to be proved. Adds certainly seemed to treat the affair with perfect coolness, and when the Vessel was boarded was smoking a cigar, with an air of nonchalance; but when actually placed under arrest he turned pale, and seemed considerably disconcerted. He maintained that the vessel was his, and asserted that she could not be taken from him. The captain, on the contrary, emphatically disclaimed any knowledge of the intention of his passengers In undertaking the voyage, and seemed thunderstruck when informed by the Consular constable of the object of bis mission.