HARD LUCK STORY.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 76, 29 March 1924, Page 13

HARD LUCK STORY.

GERMANS FINANCIAL FALL

A LEGACY OF MARKS.

A ctory of hard luck, which was. attributed to his nationality, was told by Hermann Crass, a nationalised German, when applying to -Mr. Justice Herdman for a. discharge from bankruptcy. Mr. Goldstine appeared for bankrupt. and his wife, and .Mr. Oicksyn to opp-.se the discharge on behalf uf ie.it.iin ■Uα:,terton creditors. Applicant ea.d h<? was naturalised in 100«, but during the war lie was .-everely prejudiced by iiis nationality, lie was managing a 'liotcl at Jlaeterton, but lie only pot C.i a week mid quarter.-, lor Ins xvilV, and he hud lv maintain hi* mother and the family uf his brother, who null nut. sot employment <»v account • f > is nationality. business fell away to such an extent (on account if In.i liorman birth) that the owners of t c liut-l business him the optii n uf g'ttins! out or taking it over. He r'.ioso the. latter course, but everything "as against, him, so he sold the furniture, the money not being handled hy h.m, b..t being" distributed anion;: bis ered tor-; pro rata. lie had burrowed .CIIOO from three Masterton business men t > lake over the hotel. I if came u> Auckland. and got a job in a bir. lr.it whenever his nationality ivas learned lie was asked to leave. However, he had boon working for the last, four year.-;.

.Mr. Goldstine: When ymi enntravti-d these debts you were expecting £IUOU from Germany?—Ves.

It has been suggested that yon ran into debt without any expectation of being able to pay?— J was entitled to £inno from Uermanv under my father's will. And 1 understand you got it?— Yes. Jn marks?— Ye*. Counsel then produced an envel.ip -, containing mark note-, which he raid was the legacy. There were notes for fifty million marks and for a hundred million marks- hut, as his Honor knew, they were absolutely worthless. His Honor: You can hand them over to the Ofiicial Assignee. (Laughter. I Counsel: Tte is fjuitc welcome to them. To Mr. Dickson, bankrupt, said he owed £370 14/ for wood and coal, and £S,'i2 for fish supplied in connection with the hotel at Masterton. It. was these creditors who were opposing his discharge, Mr. Dickson: How much money have you pot now?—lust about enough to take mc home. Where, to (iormany?— No; to W ha.ngarei. Is it true that you went bankrupt (in 10201 because you were drinking to excess?—l am not a drinking man. J have never been drunk in my life. ' Ever been on the racecourse? —Yes; j-ears ago. I have it put to mc that you drank very heavily and lost heavily gambling? I never had enough money to pay wap's, let alone gamble. 1 ha\e a wife, mother and children to keep. Besides. Masterton is a dry district, and you cannot get any drink there.

His Honor (drily I: You never can in a dry district. (Laughter.)

"I do not think I should refuse this man his discharge," said his Honor.

Mr. Dickson said he would not'further oppose it. Bankrupt was then granted his discharge, as was also his wife, Elizabeth Catherine Crass.