Confirmation of the suspicions which induced the Commissioner of Customs to seize the steamer was speedily obtained. Traces of fraud were quickly discovered on the ship’s hull and appointments, and in the ship’s books and papers—some of the latter being found in very unusual places of deposit. Between the leaves of the log-book a seaman’s “advance note” was found with the name of the Ferret on it. There was also found a MSS. cypher code, by means of which communication might be made between those in the vessel and others on shore. It also serves to show the unscrupulous character of the criminals and the extreme length to which they were prepared to go. One or two quotations will illustrate the truth of this assertion:—
“Accept charter referred to and lose vessel before you arrive in port. Don’t fail.”
“Get out of port the best way you can, but sink the ship, before you allow them to stop her.”
“Destroy all papers, &c., and sink ship if possible, or burn her, and get away. Make best of your way over here.”
“Things going wrong. Mate not to be trusted; shall get rid of him.”
“Things going wrong with some of the crew; must get rid of them.”
“Things going wrong with the whole of the crew; must get rid of them.”
“Lost vessel; landed here to day; all hands forward lost.”
“Game is all up; all discovered; destroy or hide everything, and make yourself scarce; communicate with me through the arranged channel.”
Among the papers seized was a card of a Dr. Bonefin. Now a swindler of this name—not a common one—shortly before the arrival of the Ferret, was convicted for obtaining goods under false pretences from a number of Melbourne jewellers, and was sentenced to a term of imprisonment in Pentridge Gaol. In the cypher code referred to Melbourne figures as 51, so that it is extremely probable that Bonefin was one of the conspirators on shore.