The Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1866-01-06 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

RACE AFTER A CRIMINAL.  A race of rather an exciting character is going on at the present in,ment, the course being the broad Atlantic and the goal New York, and the circumstances are somewhat similar to those that occurred in the case of the notorious culprit Muller when he made his flight from this country after the murder of Mr. Briggs. The fugitive on this occasion is a man who held a responsible position in the establiihment of a London merchant, and who also holds the appointment of consul to a foreign State, and the crime of which he is accused lathe forgery of a cheque for 800/. It would appear that about a fortnight back a cheque for the above amount was presented at-the bank, purporting to be drawn by the firm to which the absconding clerk belonged, and the signature seemed to have been so well fabricated, and the cheque was presented under such circumstances, that no snspicion was entertained, and the money was paid. The culprit's plans seemed to have been well laid, for he sailed in the Saxonia, one of the swiftest of the New York mail packets, on the very day after he got possession of his booty, and before the forgery was discovered he was far on his way across the Atlantic. His absence from his duty of course created suspicion, and this led to in.  (miry and to the discovery of the forgery. Inquiries were at once set on foot, and the matter was laced in the hands of Heydon, the experienced London detective, and he succeeded in tracing the fugitive, and ascheisrtapiatgb:y(o.ndb,amdrodubtthtehaatbtot cuaritednal vessel token kfeonr New York, in an assumed name, and that be was accompanied by a lady. Within four days of this discovery being made the officer had started in pursuit, and the two vessels are now making the best of their way to their destination. It will be remembered that in Muller's case that criminal took his departure in a sailing vessel, and that his progress was consequently comparatively slow, and the result was that although Inspector Tanner did not go after him until several days had elapsed, the steamer in which he took his passage outstripped the other vessel and arrived at New York a long time before her, and the vessel containing the culprit was boarded by the inspector upon her arrival a short distance from New York. In the present case, however, there is no chance of the " Saxonia" being outstrippel by her follower, and she will, in all prolsability, arrive at New York several days before the one in which the officer has taken his passage, and if the absconding clerk should make his way from New York into the interior, the chase may probably prove a very lengthened one. It is anticipated, however, that he will make a short stay at New York after his voyage, ,nd in this case the officer will be quickly on his track, and as there is a treaty for the extradition of criminals between this country and the United States, there will be no difficulty in the culprit being delivered up and brought back to this country. It is believed that the culprit has nearly, if not the whole of the proceeds of the forged cheque in his possession, and this will, of course, be recovered in the event of his being apprehended.