The “Times” (23rd June, 1881) Sydney correspondent states that after leaving St. Vincent the vessel’s name was altered to the Benton. But this seems most improbable, as it would be apparent that the Ferret did not founder in the Mediterranean, and further it would have left a clue by which she could easily have been traced. The truth probably is, that the alteration was made immediately she got clear of the Straits of Gibraltar. Be this as it may, the Benton arrived at Santos on the 26th December.
At Santos, Smith went on shore and lost no time in opening negotiations with the local shipping agents, to whom he stated that the Benton was from Cape Town in ballast, bound for England. The negotiations resulted in the shipment of 3,992 bags of coffee, consigned to various consignees at Marseilles. Having obtained this cargo, the Benton sailed from Santos on the 11th January, 1881, but instead of proceeding to Marseilles she steamed direct to Cape Town.
While the Benton was steaming across the South Atlantic, the Glasgow holders of the bill for £1,490 received some information which made them uneasy, and on presentation of the bill when due, it was dishonoured. The account was closed, the balance had been withdrawn, and the acceptor’s whereabouts were unknown. The holders then applied to Henderson and Co., but the letter was returned—addressees “gone, no address.” They then wrote to the Highland Railway Co., and received a reply from the Secretary to the effect that the Highland Railway Co. had already done all in their power to trace the Ferret, in their own interests, having received no charter money from the charterers since the vessel sailed from the Clyde. They had been in communication with Lloyd’s and the Board of Trade, and through British Consuls and Lloyd’s agents, enquiries had been made all over the world. About ten days before the receipt of the merchants’ letter the Highland Railway Co. had heard that the Ferret had arrived at Malta, but on cabling there had received a reply denying the report. They had cabled a second time, ordering the vessel to be seized at Malta in the event of her putting in there.
Meanwhile the Benton was nearing Cape Town, laden with coffee shipped at Santos. During the voyage further changes had been effected in the appearance of the vessel, and the name India was substituted for Benton. The original name (Ferret) had previously been filed off the ship’s bell, and now, as a further precaution the ship’s number on the main hatch combings was altered to 77,942. The India put into Cape Town on the 29th January, and at once began to discharge her cargo.
The conspirators had provided themselves with a printing press, and had all necessaries on board, as well as Revenue Stamps of various nations, by which they were able to manufacture the vouchers and documents necessary to the success of their frauds. At Cape Town, Smith produced an invoice with a printed heading, purporting to be an invoice for 3,992 bags coffee sold by coffee planters at La Guayra (a small port in Venezuela) to C. S. Henderson & Co., and with it a receipt for the amount duly stamped. He succeeded in selling the cargo, and realised by the sale of it about £11,000. He had to accept in part payment bills to the extent of £8,000, drawn on the Standard Bank, Clement’s Lane, London, payable nine months after date. It is satisfactory to know that the frauds were discovered before the bills matured, and payment of them was stopped. After the discharge of the cargo, Smith tried to sell the steamer, but not succeeding in his attempt, he shipped a quantity of coal, and sailed on the 14th February for the Mauritius. The conspirators arrived at Mauritius on the 1st March, but did not succeed in getting any plunder there, and so they “cleared out for Guam.”
The next port they entered was Port Albany in Western Australia, from whence they steamed direct to Melbourne. Here Wright and Walker offered the steamer for sale, but received no offers. While in Melbourne, several circumstances made the Customs officers and the Harbour Police suspect that there was something wrong about the vessel. It was observed that the fires were always banked so that steam could be got up at the shortest notice. Captain Wright never left the steamer, and none of the crew (except Walker, the purser) were ever allowed “shore leave.” The Customs authorities instructed one of their officers to make a special investigation of the matter, and he reported that there was no steamer of the tonnage given registered at Lloyd’s in the name of India, but that the particulars of tonnage and dimensions corresponded with the register of the missing steamer Ferret.
The Arrest.
Noting all these suspicious circumstances the Customs authorities determined on prompt action. Requisitioning two crews of the Water Police, as it was feared there might be violent opposition on the part of the steamer’s crew, the Commissioner of Customs, on the 27th April, seized the vessel. Fortunately their anticipations as to resistance were not realised, the crew surrendering without opposition. Although the authorities had been extremely cautious in their enquiries, it is evident that the conspirators became aware of what was being done, for when the steamer was seized, Smith, “Mrs. Smith,” and Captain Wright had fled. The previous day Smith and Mrs. Smith removed from their cabin a number of articles, and amongst them two heavy iron-bound boxes which were never traced. Smith succeeded in getting away from Melbourne to a distant township, but was arrested. Mrs. Smith, who had disappeared for a time, when she heard of his arrest reappeared and visited him in prison. The object of her visit may be surmised from the fact that shortly after her visit Smith tried to escape by filing through one of the bars of his prison window.
Captain Wright had found a retreat in a Melbourne sailors’ lodging-house, but having got drunk and quarrelled with his landlady, he was thrown out, and arrested for being drunk and disorderly. When the charge was being booked at the police station, he was recognised as the missing master of the steamer, for whom the police were searching.