TWICE BANKRUPT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 81, 6 April 1933, Page 5

TWICE BANKRUPT.

SERVICE CAR OWNER.

BREACHES OF ACT ALLEGED.

COMMITTED FOR TRIAI».

Lawrence William Pickett, service car proprietor, appeared in the Police Court this morning, charged with two breaches of the Bankruptcy Act.

Pickett was charged with obtaining credit amounting to £00 while an undischarged bankrupt, and further with failing to keep proper books. Mr. McCarthy, of the Crown Solicitor's office, prosecuted, and Mr. King appeared for defendant.

A clerk employed in the office of the Official Assignee said Pickett was first adjudicated bankrupt, on his own petition, on September 4, 1929. He had not yet obtained his discharge. The schedule showed debts at £112 10/ and the assets nil. No dividend was -ever-paid. Pickett was again adjudicated bankrupt, on his own petition, on July 27, 1932. On that occasion his schedule showed that £983 was owing to unsecured creditors and £1040 to secured creditors, leas value of securities, leaving a deficiency of £40 on secured creditors and a total deficiency of £1023. Again his assets were nil.

Witness said that prior to Pickett's second bankruptcy, he was a service car proprietor. When asked to produce books, he produced a small cash book, a bank pass book and six books of cheque butts. The cash book had been kept from April to June, 1931, and did not show any bankings. It was quite impossible to ascertain Pickett's position. Pickett himself would have been unable to ascertain his own position. Evidence was given by Mr. G. Grey Campbell, associate public accountant, that he had examined the books. He also said it was impossible for anyone to ascertain Pickett's position by the books.

The accountant of a tyre and rubber firm said defendant obtained goods valued at £60 6/ from his firm. Pickett did not disclose the fact that he was an undischarged bankrupt. The account was still unpaid.

Pickett pleaded not guilty to both charges and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial.