THE ARREST OF AN ENGLISH ABSCONDER AT WELLINGTON.

Patea Mail, Volume IV, Issue 408, 15 March 1879, Page 2

THE ARREST OF AN ENGLISH ABSCONDER AT WELLINGTON.

Henry Steering was arrested on Saturday morning on board the snip Lorraine, - from England, as ’she entered 'Wellington harbour, on charges of forgery and .embezzlement; He had been Secretary to the Governors of Lincoln Dispensary. The full amount of the defalcations is unknown, but a warrant for his arrest was issued upon defalcations known to amount to £l3O, together with two forgeries for two small amounts. He was in receipt of £9O per annum, but Jived in the style of a person of ample means, his house being exceedingly well furnished. He also kept several servants. He was a great bird fancier, and had a fine aviary. He has been known' to pay as much a ten guineas for a fancy canary, and thirty guineas for a dog. He used to exhibit his birds at shows. The defalcations are supposed to be several thousands. The arrest was made by Superintendent James and Detective Sul Hvan, through prisoners resemblance to a photograph which had been sent out by the mail steamer. Detective Hocking, who was sent from England in pursuit, had gone out to the Heads to make his arrest, hut the vessel Had left her anchorage. Stebbing, the English defaulter, was brought up before the Resident on Monday morning, and remamߣ will he sent home, accompanied by Detective Hocking, in the first sailing vessel. He had no money on him when arrested. It appears he was in the habit of appropriating subscriptions of £SO and £loo.which used to be periodically subscribed by certan wealthy people to the Lincoln Hospital of which btebbing was secretary. He was also in the habit of forging receipts to tradesman’s bills. He is a man about 26 years of age.