THE FERRET FRAUD.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2538, 10 May 1881, Page 2

THE FERRET FRAUD.

News from Melbourne to May 2, states that Henderson, the ostensible owner of the India, alias Ferret, steamer, made no statement when arrested. Ho gave his name as Geo. Bolton. It seems that his movements have been traced by Detective Mackay up to the time of his arrest. Captain Wright was arrested on Saturday in a House in Lonsdale street on two charges, one for threatening to shoot the landlady, and the other for unlawfully and fraudulently altering a certain agreement made and signed by him as master of the India. The Detectives with the Customs officers, instituted a search, and in overhauling Henderson’s luggage found 626 sovereigns, some plate, about £BOOO worth of bills on London and elsewhere, besides some Brazilian notes, £3OO worth of Brazilian coin, and documents relating to bills dated from Capetown and Brazil. They also found account sales of a cargo of coffee from Santos to the Cape. The value of the coffee was over £IO,OOO. Bills were given on the Standard Bank, London, for £BOOO, while £2OOO was paid to Henderson in cash. A quantity of ammunition was found. The India is a splendid vessel of - 347 tons burden. She was built for speed, and appointments in the cabins are perfect. It appears she was intended for pleasure rather than trade. The crew number 18, and four officers, who are all remarkably reticent. She is built of iron, and has powerful engines, being able to travel sixteen to seventeen miles an hour.

Telegrams have been received from the owners of the steamer Ferrett, empowering Messrs Woolly and Co. to take possession of the vessel. The whole of the crew will he arrested for complicity in the fraud. Wright, the captain of the Ferrett. was brought up yesterday, and remanded till Monday. A book containing a special cypher code was found on board the vessel, which was intended to convey to persons in England full information of the movements of the steamer. One was as follows; —“ Game is up; all discovered. Destroy or hide everything. Make yourselves scarce. Communicate with me through arranged channel.’’ It is probable Constable Davidson, who first gave the information about the India, will be rewarded by the owners.