Bankrupt Stories.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 179, 7 August 1888, Page 1

Bankrupt Stories.

A writer in an Auckland journal states :—The air is full of rumours about belligerent encounters. In the august presence of the Official Assignee the other day, a lawyer said to a bankrupt, or a bankrupt said to a lawyer, or both uttered the words, “ You’re a liar !” Then the man of law, instead of waiting for an action, threw off his coat, and challenged the bankrupt “to come on.” The bankrupt was a big man, but hostilities were prevented by peace-loving bank managers and others. Then again, we have the story of a Customs officer who accused a lawyer of having been “ squared,” when the lawyer at once wired in, and knocked the Customs officer down. Beally these men of law are getting firey. It has been remarked, says an Otago writer, that bankrupts are often “ let down lightly ” by their creditors, and a case in point occurred at a meeting held in the Official Assignee’s office yesterday. The solicitor for the petitioning creditors subjected the bankrupt to a rigid examination, but elicited nothing of very great moment, and nearly all the dozen creditors present seemed to want to let the debtor off, and talked of the matter in a most jocular strain. When all the crossquestioning was over, the Assignee asked, “Well, gentlemen, what am I to do with this unfortunate bankrupt ? Hang him ?” One creditor replied laughingly, “ Yes, hang him but a good Samaritan among the twelve said, “ No, let’s get up a subscription for him.” This created a good deal of laughter, but the creditor said he meant it. and would start the subscription with his dividend Another laugh caused the Assignee to say, “ There’s often some fun in creditors’ meetings: which reminds one of Byron’s remark about gondolas—* They sometimes contain a deal of fun, like mourning coaches when the funeral’s done.’” Matters were brought to an issue by the creditors unanimously deciding to recommend the bankrupt for his discharge ; and, those present filed out of the room, the aforementioned creditor who had taken a stand at the outer door collected 5s from each as the nucleus of a subscription in the debtor’s behalf. Says the Wanganui Herald : —Henry, the Fielding bankrupt, has at last received his deserts in a three months' sentence for fraudulent bankruptev The public examination disclosed an extraordinary state of affairs, Jlehad sent his tools of trade and personal belongings to Sydney with his wife and brother-in-law. and yet he said he was going to start business in Napier. He had paid Mr Jellicoe £ll5 to defend him in the Supreme Court, Wanganui, when No Bill WM Returned on the charge of arson, aad insurance to the amount of £4OO had been received by Mr Jellicoe and paid away on his behalf just before he filed. Besides that the Official Assignee reported that the bankrupt had received £2OO cash since Decern bar, which he had not accounted for,