AN EXTRAORDINARY CAREER.

Otago Witness, Issue 1901, 10 July 1890, Page 11

AN EXTRAORDINARY CAREER.

F. P. Williams, who has lately been a hotelkeeper in Auckland, recently stated to the police, while under the influence of 'drink, that he had been guilty of a number of audacious thefts and embezzlements in England, America, and this colony at different periods of bis life, and that he bad in 1855— in the early days of Ballarat — while employed by Joshua Vines, of the firm of Viues aud M'Phee, coach proprietors, of that place, robbed him of £2000 when he was carrying on the business of a gold-broker. The police authorities here have communicated with the police at Melbourne to ascertain whether such a robbery took place. It has been found from the official records that such was the case. Vines, it appears, first became acquainted with Williams when purchasing gold from Vines ; and it is stated that on one occasion he gave Williams a £10 note in mistake for £1, and that Williams afterwards returned the money. This act of honesty led to his being employed by Mr Vines in his gold business. One Saturday Mr Vines intended to deposit £2000 in the bank, but learning that one of the coaches running between Ballarat and Creswick had run over a woman, he went to the scene of the accident, entrusting the money, as he states, to his

clerk Williams, who left for the purpose o going to the bank, but did not do so. Vines heard nothing further respecting him, although it is stated that a large reward was offered for his apprehension at the time. Williams, who is 64 years of age, has stated that he lirst began his evil practices in 1843, when he was employed as a juuior collector in a cotton house in Manchester. He cleared out from Manchester with £300 of his employer's money and proceeded to New Orleans, where he was employed by a merchant named Massey, whom he afterwards, bo he states, robbed of 500dol. He subsequently joined the 16th Lancers, deserted revisited the United States, and obtained the position of bank manager in Nevada City. He subsequently absconded with 20,000d01, and waa lucky enough to get back to England. Ho afterwards visited Cape Colony, and then camo to Victoria. The polio now find, when they havo confirmation of Williams' confession, that he cleared out for Sydney by thu Wairarapa on thn 14th. Williams has been through the South and sorao time ago was iv the employ of Mr Liardet, of Wellington.