The Barrow Herald and Furness Advertiser. — 1866-01-06 (Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, England)

RACE AFTER A CRIMINAL.—A race of rather an exciting character is at present .going on, the course being the broad Atlantic, and the goal New York, and the circumstances being 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 culprit on this occasion is a enan named John Burton, who held a responsible position in the establishment of a merchant in the city of• London, and who also holds -the appointment of consul to a foreign state, and the crime of which he is accused is the forgery of a cheque for £BOO upon the City Bank, Threadneedle-street. It would appear that about a fortnight back a cheque for the abdve amount was presented at the • bank, p irporting to be drawn by the firm to *hid' the absconding clerk -belonged, And the signature seemed to have been so well fabricated, and the cheque was-presented under such circumstances that no suspicion was entertained, and the money was paid. The culprit's plans seemed to liavhbeeri well laid,.for he sailed in the Saxonia, one of the swiftest of the New York mail packets, on the VerY day after lie 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 inquiry and to the discovery of the forgery. Inquiries were at one set on footi.. and the 4 matter was placed in the hands of Haydon, the , CitST detedive, who succeeded in tracing the fugitive; and ascertained, beyond dOubt, that he had taken his passage on board the above-named vessel for New :York in an assumed name, and that he was-ale)mpanied by a lady. Within four days --of this . diseovery being - made the officer had pOsnit; -and the two vessel i 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 sail,ing vessel, and that his progress was consequently comparatively slow, and the result was t let althoftgh Inspector Tanner did not go after him until several days had elapsed, the steamer in i,vllloll h Wok h:s OAS* 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. hr arrival a short distance from New York. In the present case, however, there is no chance of the Saxonia being outstripped by her follower-, -and She will in all probabilitr arriVe at New YOrk seleral daYi Werke the one in whieh the Add: liltS taken his passage, and if he Should make his way from: New York into the interior, the chase may, possibly prove a lengthened one. It is anticipated, however, that he will make a short stay at New York .after his voyage and in this case the officer will be- quickly on his track, and- as there le a treaty for the extradition of triininale •between this cohntry am the United States, there will be no difficulty in the culprit being delivered up and brought back to this country. It is belieled that he has nearly, if not quite the whole Of, the proceeds of the forged.dheqed in his possession, and thiS will, of course, be recovered in the event of his being apprehended.