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 The account was closed, the balance had been withdrawn, and the acceptor’s whereabouts were unknown.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.”