D. C. McINTYRE'S ARREST AT MONTE VIDEO.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12849, 6 July 1907, Page 9

D. C. McINTYRE'S ARREST AT MONTE VIDEO.

INTERVIEWED IN PEISON. (bt oub special cobbespondknt.) MONTE VIDEO, May 1. Not many days had passed since the 11.M.5. Turakina drew out from tho wharf at Wellington on her last Homeward voyago ere several people on board her became aware that among their fellow-passengers was Mr McIntyre. The late Director of Exhibits at the New Zealand International Exhibition was travelling steerage, and was known to those who struck up a casual acquaintance with him as Mr .Mack. This name, in fact, was the one undT which he sailed, and though, as a result of his having obtained a brrth at Wellington at the eleventh hour, it did not appear upon the printed lists of passengers which were handed it was written upon tho corrected list held by tho purser. '1 hough he was seldom seen on deck during the rirst week out, it eventually becamo Mr Mclntyre's custom to take a walk between 5.30 and G p.m., and it was while he was thus employed that your correspondent first got into conversation with him. At the outset Mr McIntyre was agreeable to be interviewed in the rogujar manner, but ho subsequently changed his mind and said that ho preferred to hand over a written statement. In the course of conversation, however, he averred that the true reason of his sudden departure from New Zealand was that he had got into £t:ch financial difficulties privately, and was being so hard pressed by some of his creditors, that ho did not think there was anything elso for it but to effect a prompt change in his address. Ho only regretted that he had not gone bankrupt before tho Exhibition opened, and so placed himself in a position to mako a fresh start. To do so, however, meant the loss of all chance of the appointment, which he eventually obtained, and it was this consideration that caused him to determine to struggle on. So far as his connection with the Exhibition was concerned, he was satisfied that ho would como out of tho affair with credit. Asked as to what his intentions were as to tho future, Mr McIntyro said,that in view of his experience in the produce trndo he felt pretty confident of obtaining a billet in England, where ho fully exacted some important letters would await him.

It is practically unquestionable that England was Mclntyre's goal. This, however, he was not destined to reach, as the Acting-British Consul at Monte \ ideo had received instructions from the Home Government to arrest him. Tho Turakina had not long dropped her anchor, and was lying about two miles from the shore, when a tug hovo in sight, and naturally everybody expected that she -was conveying the port's medical officer. In this, however, all wero mistaken, as eho carao in connection with tho arrest of McIntyre. But owing to some bungling in regard to tho necessary papers, she had to return without the absconding New Zealander, and instead of getting ashoro at about 9.30 a.m., as those who wero anxious to visit Monte Video anticipated doing, nobody set foot upon South American soil until late in tho afternoon. The delay was partially tho outcome of an inexcusablo error on tho part, it is to be presumed, of some member or members of tho .New Zealand detective force; an error, too, that might quite simply have been attended with most serious consequences. The British Consul received word that Mclntyre was travelling under the name of Wilccx, and it was not until Mr Wilcox, the manager of the Loan and Mercantile's produce department at Christchurch had been identified by both the captaiu of the Turakina and Mr Fisher, a well-known solicitor of that the authorities wero persuaded that they had got hold of the wrong man. Mclntyre went ashoro with tho other passengers and only a fe\v even of those who Tiiiew something of hie story were aware that he was under arrest,,

Your correspondent made it his first business, after landing, to call upon tlio British Consul, through whose extreme kindness and courtcsty he was enabled to interview Mclntyre ai the prisoTi during the following morning. Prisons in Uruguay aro run on vastly different lines from those in New Zealand, and ha<f* Mclntyro not had the acting British Consul, Mr C. E. R. Rowland, as a strong friend in court, he would hnvo experienced a very uncomfortable time of it indei»d. In tho ordinary course of things he would havo been herded with the lowest class of criminals of various nationalities, have had no blankets let alone a bed, to sleep in, and his solo sustenance would have consisted of a dish of macaroni per diem. Apart from tho macaroni, some water, and a b«ro floor, the Uruguayan authorities provide nothing for those who transgress die laws of tho Republic. All extras havo to be purchased. Mr Rowland arranged that Mclntyre should pass his first night in one of the warder's quarters, after which still more comfortable quarters would be found him. A bed and bedding were purchased, and-paymcnt made to ensure Mclntyro having proper food. Mr Rowland strongly urged Mclntyre to give into his custody any valuables or money that he possessed, and in reply Mclntyre handed over a presentation watch and about £4 in money, which he asserted was ail that ho had with him. It was about noon on the day after tho Turakina's arrival that your correspondent in company with -Mr Rowland, visited the prieon, and alter the latter had con-versed-in Spanish with the chief warder, Mclntyre was sent for, and our meeting, took place in a small hall just near the main entrance. MoIntvro eaid that he had passed the night in moderate comfort, and tnat he found the warders that he had met anxious to do all that they could tor him. lie expressed considerable surprise at his arrest, which be thought had been brought about by a moneylender, to whom ho stated 1 ho had been paying £20 per month as interest on a debt of £lw). In this, however, he was mistaken, for, as a matter of fact, the arrest wis effected at the instigation of Mr Munro, who charged -UcIntyro with defalcations to the amount o! *£35. On being aeked whether he cared to say anytuing about the matter, Mclntyru maae the following remarks, which, if containing nothing of special interest, at l«ast ui;*o dear his idea of the position. »o fir as he and Mr Muero were concerned. '• In the oSoial netice ef the JtJshibition it was adveHised that all exhibits would b« judeed, and that there would be thre? judges, one appointed by tho .Exhibition authorities, one by

the exhibitors, an<J the third by the tiro already in office. Subsequently the Awards Committeo met and decided that this system should bo done away ■with, and that all exhibitors should receive a certificate of award. In addition to this, they practically appointed a journalist from Wellington to report on the whole of the exhibits and to recommend certain awards. This agreement, however, wae not acted upon, and about six or seven weeße before the cloeo of the Exhibition, when the exhibitors begnn to complain of dilatoriness in the matter of making awards, and commenced to write letters to tho papers about the subject, 1 saw Mr Muuro, who ..old mc that I had better see the Minister then, in charge. Mr Fowlds then instructed mc to prepare a eciieduie for clarification of tho exhibits, together with rules and regulations fer judging. These 1 duly drew up, having gathered my data from previews exhibitions, and also from information obtained from Messrs Arthur Day, li. J. Scoit, the Canadian Commissioners, and other gentlemen who had had long experience in connection with exhibitions. The results of my labours were placed before Mr Fowlds and Mr John Ami-it-son, chairman of the Awards Committee, each of whom appro rod of them, Mr Fowlds, if my memory serves mc actually initialling tho copy. l'ii:s could bcT-obtaiiied from the "Spectator"' olEce, where tho printing was done, as they had my copy. I subsequently discussed the matter of single judges with Mr Munro, who thought that, on the seoro of expense, such would be best. This matter was alsi> debated with Mr Fowlds and Mr. Andeason, and as there were then only cix weeks at our disposal a conclusion was arrived at to the effect that no other system would permit of the work being gyt through. Tlw.ee judges wer? instructed by mc to judge on merit, and recommend awards. Mr Fowlds instiucted mo to call a meeting of tho exhibitors, and to disoufie with them the rules for judging, und 1 accordingly addressed them by circular. I then showed n copy of tho rules, and also of the circular calling the exhibitors together, to Mr Munro, the latter of which Mr Munro signed, thus clearly proving that he must have boon aware of the business nf the meeting. At the mooting which wns thus brought about there were over 200 ex hibitors present, when tho rales wen gono through one by one, and the whole of them were approved. As going !o show how satisfactory tho rules and tho (subsequent judging were, I may mention that out of about 1800 a war-Is only 7 (seven) w<?ro protested against It should bo understood that each award was approved of by the Minister lw»foro boing made, public. I several tinw) nskod Mr Munro for advice upci matters in connection with the awards, and on each occasion he said he knew nothing about them, and invariably ap pearod to consider tho matter ono of very little importance. For six weeks prior to the closing <w the Exhibition I was working from li to 1(5 hours a day, ondeavouring to get the judging through, and the only feel ing shown with respect to tho nwir-ls made was in connection with tho exhibits of wines and spirits. Right through the Exhibition I put all my energy into my department, and I think that the completeness of it on the opening day showed pretty dearly that a great deal cf work had been cove by somnbody. Knowing"that there had been certain differences of opinion expressed as to Mr Melntyro'e position and powers, your correspondent questioned him «s to the method of his appointment. In •Tiswer. Mr Mclntyro said that, by direction of the Minister, Mr Munro sent him a letter informing him, of hU appnjntmcnt as superintendent oawards.