The Atherstone, Nuneaton, and Warwickshire Times. — 1887-07-23 (Atherstone, Warwickshire, England)

CAPTURE OF WALTER WILLIAM NEALE IN AUSTRALIA.  Mr. W. W. Neale, the solicitor who absoonileil front Coventry on the 04th March loot. hno been apprehended at Melbourne, Australia On Friday night Chief -eons.ble Norris received a cablegram from the Comnii.ioner of Police at Melbourne. Raying, "Walter William Neale, forger, arrested here. Will be remanded. Telegraph instructions as to further steps." Mr. Norns immediately replied, "Thank.. Will send officer for Neale next 'teenier!' The news of the arr.t of the fugitive did not bemune generally known until after midday on Saturday, when it created a profound sensation. From what has now. transpired it appears that Mr. Norris and his officers have been working very quietly but very energetically with the view of securing Neslea apprehension ever since hie departure. No stone has been left unturned since the case was placed in their hands, and it is no doubt entirely. due to the judgment and assiduity of Mr. Norns, emnbined with the ready and competent a.istauce of Inspector Gray, police clerk, that the fugitive h. been run to earth. Twelve day, elapsol ef.r Neale absconded before the police were fully instructed and ertned with a warrant, the offence alleged being embeaslemuent. Descriptions of the man wanted were immediately got out, and despatched to every separate police edabliehment in the United Kingdom, as well as to the heads of police in the United States and other par. of America, in the colonies and British pe.easions, and on the continent of Europ& h.e descriptions were soon supplonented by more complete information in the shape of handbills illustrated with a portrait of Neale. and containing the information that ,the fugitive was " wanted for fraud, forgery, and enibesslement. Copien of these bills were forwarded to almost every part of the civilised world, and communications.begau to flovr . in, stating that the police machinery w. motion every whera A uew feature in connection with the hue and cry in an English police cam was that • portrait of Neale. with a description, appeared in the dmericon Police Record, pub. Itahed at Philadelphia. Meanwhile nxembere of the local force had been told off for special duty in connection with the case, and for about a month a careful watch wax kept on all pl.m where it was thought likely Neale might put in appearance. All the efforts were unavailing, however, and . usual in such cases rumour became very busy, it being stated amongst other things, that Neale had committed suicide in a hotel at Liverpool, and that be woo working net Miner lose mine at Naneaton. After the meeting of Neale's creditors, at the beginning of May, public intereit in the matter gradually subsided, but the efforts of the police were never relaxed. A voluminous correspondence with persons in val.. parts of the world, and amongst others with persons at Melbourne was kept up, and secret means were adopted, and the police felt convinced that sooner or later Neale would walk into the carefully prepared and widely-spread net which had been woven for his capture. 111, pr.umed that Neale went to Australia in a sailing ye..el, as being leas likely to be searched, and se giving a longer Rine for the hue and cry to abate and if this were the case he must have been apprehended soon after • land., Only a few days ago afresh warrant was taken out against Neale for forgery, but as the particular offence alleged took place in the county, other warrants will probably be applied for for offencer in the city, in order to simplify procedure. Detective Inspector Golby hae fteea detailed by the Superintendent to escort Neale to England. The task of bringing Neale to justice will not be completed before the end of October, and meanwhile some particulars as to the circumstances of his arrest may be anticipated. M. Norris states that in all his 4.3 years experience, although he hoe been engaged in more serious canes, including the celebrated Road murder, he hon never been connected with proceeding, requiring more constant and unflagging attention than th.e which have just resulted in Neale, apprehension.