ROUND THE WORLD AFTER A "WANTED" LAWYER.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1802, 18 December 1896, Page 6

ROUND THE WORLD AFTER A "WANTED" LAWYER.

On the arrival of the steamer Ruapehu in Plymouth Sound from New Zealand the story of a remarkable chase and capture of an absconding lawyer was told. In April of this year James Edward Geake, a lawyer, practising in Daylesford (Victoria), waß convicted at Melbourne on a charge of embezzling the sum of £6OO, and sentenced to two years' imprisonment. He gave notice of appeal, and, pending the hearing, was given bail. Geake absconded, and a warrant was issued for his arrest. Detective Rogers, of the Melbourne police, found the accused had left the country. He followed, and crossed to Hobart, where he learned that his man had sailed for New Zealand. Detective Rogers started in pursuit, but on his arrival he found that Geake had sailed for the Argentine Republic. Again he followed, and, on landing in Monte Video, was successful in finding the runaway with his wife in the town. Ilia difficulties were not yet ended, however. The man denied his identity, and in this he was supported by the authorities, who gave Detective Rogers ninety days in which to procure additional evidence to justify the extradition. The detective was placed in a dilemma. Since securing Geake's arrest he had been paying a dollar a day for the man's food. He therefore told him it was no use paying for his food if he \vere nob the mau, and so stopped the supply. Geake, being still under arrest and not properly fed, at last confessed. The extradition formalities were then completed, and Detective Rogers sailed with his prisoner in the Ruapehu for England. Geake's wife accompanied him. The Plymouth police had been warned of Geake's presence on the steamer, and in order that no difficulty should be raised by the prisoner as to his detention, Detectivesergeant Crabb was ordered, to meet the vessel with a warrant for Geake's detention. Arrangements were made for landing the prisoner and detaining him at Plymouth pending the departure of the next steamer for Australia, On the commander of the Ruapehu (Captain Diig&ld Stewart) being spoken to on the subject, he declined to allow Geake to be taken ashore without explicit instructions from the Home Office. To avoid any difficulties that might arise on the extradition Geake will accordingly be detained in London until the next steamer leaves for Australia. By the time he reaches Melbourne he and his captor will have completed a voyage round the world.