ALLEGED FALSE STATEMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 180, 1 August 1925, Page 15

ALLEGED FALSE STATEMENT.

COLXTRY DRAPER COMMITTED.

'(By Telegraph—Own Corresaondent.) HAMILTON, Friday

Harry Bertram Howe, formerly a draper of Hamilton, but now of Waipukurau, was charged before Mr. H. A. Young. S.M., that in January, 1024, lie obtained the consent of Messrs. Ross and Glendining to grant him further credit, and to withholding legal action against him, by giving a false statement of his affairs and a false balance-sheet. _ A similar charge was preferred against him in connection with Messrs. Sargood, Son and Ewen, and lie was further charged that, on July 11, 1924, lie contracted a debt with Messrs. Wallace, Ltd., of Auckland, of £13 10/0 at a time when lie had no reasonable expectation of being able to pay it, as well as his other debts.

Mr. H. T. Gillies said defendant led the firms mentioned to believe that he had a credit balance of £875, and that his assets amounted to £1600. He produced a balance-sheet made out by a firm of accountants from figures supplied by him, showing the position as stated.

Mr. V. H. Sanson, Deputy Official Assignee, said Howe must have known he was hopelessly insolvent at the end of June, when an accountant's statement showed a deficit of £291 1/5. He had subsequently contracted the debt of £13 10/0 to Wallace and Co., aud could have had no reasonable expectation of paying it and his other debts.

Evidence was given by the managers of the firms concerned.

Mr. Tompkins, for the defendant, submitted that the case should be dismissed, as there was no evidence to show that defendant was aware that the balancesheet was incorrect.

Mr. Gillies recalled witnesses with a view to rebutting this contention.

The magistrate held that a prima facie case had been established on all charges, and Howe, who had pleaded not guilty, was committed for tiral. Bail was fixed at £50 on his own recognisance.