A DELINQUENT BANKRUPT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 305, 23 December 1896, Page 9

A DELINQUENT BANKRUPT.

HASH DEALINGS AND NOT

KEEPING BOOKS.

At the Police Courb this morning, beforo Mr H. W. Northcroft, S.M., a young man named Ernest Hanswell Bennett wait charged with thab, being a person adjudged bankrupt on the 25th June, 1896, he did, wibbin three months before the commencement of his bankruptcy fail to keep such books of account as were usual and proper in the business carried on by him; that he did contract a debt for the sum of £33 16s 8d with one, John Jones, when he did not have aay reasonable ground of expectation of being able to pay the pame, and that bis bankruptcy was attributable to rath and hazardous speculations. Mr J. P. McAlister (Tolo and McAlister) appeared foi the prosecution, instructed by the Official Assignee ia Bankruptcy. Bennett pleaded guilty, and asked to bo summarily dealt with. Mr McAlister gave an acconnb of bbc business operations of tho accused ab Waihi, where he bad conducted an auctioneering business, boarding-house, etc., and where be had carried on his commercial transactions withoub keeping any books. He bad kept no proper record of bis business dealings, aad the case was ono which tho Official Assignee had felt must be brought beforo the Criminal Courb. The bankrupt's debts totalled £1,118, while the realised assets were only worth £170 15s 7d. The accused had, moreover, contracted a certain debt in Aucklnud when he had no reasonable expectation of paying ib, and ho had throughout his business been guilty of negligence and reckless dealing. The details bad already come up ia the Bankruptcy Assignee's department. Mr Northcrofb asked Bonnetb whab bo had to say for himself. The accused said he did bhe best he could in every way. He wenb bo tbe bad in hia business in Whangarei aud To Awamutu as well as Waihi. He had no more to say for himself. Hia Worship said there was no doubb tho accused would have to go to Mounb Eden. The only question was thab ef time. He would take bime to consider the sentence; and the case was accordingly allowed to stand over till tho afternoon. A MONTH'S IMPRISONMENT. '■'* When Bennett was brought up for sentence at two o'clock, Mr Northcrofb said he did nob think he could pass over the offences to which prisoner bad pleaded guilty. Accused said he had paid mon bo keep books for him. as he did nob understand bookkeeping himself. Mr Northcrofb said people must be protected against those who traded with them who were nob honest. If he bad not pleaded guilty and had been committed for trial and been convicted ab the Supreme Court he could geb a sentence up to two years' imprisonment, and up to six months if he was dealb wibn summarily. Under the circumstances be did not think he could inflict a less sentence than one month's imprisonment with bard labour.. That would be the sentence. Bennett: Can't you leb me out nader bho First Offenders' Acb . Mr Northcroft said no, he could nob do-so under tbe circumstance*).