A WOULD-BE ABSCONDER.

Evening Post, Volume XXI, Issue 59, 12 March 1881, Page 2

A WOULD-BE ABSCONDER.

An illustration of the time-worn adage that " There's many a Blip twixt tho cup and the lip," occurred in Wellington to-day. Just as tho s.s. Napier had got free from the Quoen'B Wharf at 6 o'clock this morning, a waterman's boat wa.B observed to dart from tho pior round tho f<ide of the bteatner farthest from the small group ot spectators who were watching her departure. Arrived alongside the larger craft, a man, who up to th<>t moment had remained perdu at tho bottom of tho boat, scrambled on board, and became lost among the passengers. At that moment, however, there occurred a waving of pocket-handkerchiefs and shouts of " Put back !" on the wharf. These woro prompted, it appeared, by Mr. Short, the bailiff of the R.M. Court, who "wanted" a certain debtor expected to " floo into Egypt" on account of a variety of potent reasons. The steamer put about, and Mr. Short Boon espied his victim— a man named George Bainston — who waa torn from the bosom of his wife and family standing on the deck, and landed on terra fir ma. Subsequently he was brought up before Mr. E. Shaw, R.M , when ho found himself the defendant in two civil actions, the plaintiffs in which were Messrs. Gear (£5 93 4dj and H. Norbury (.£3O 10s 9J). In the former judgment was confessed, and immediate execution issued ; and in 'the latter tho plaintiff, for whom Mr. Hutchison appeared, was awardod judgment with costs. Tho excuse offered for his strange behavior was that ho ' was overwhelmed, and had not tho moral courage to face his creditors." He admitted he had received a oheqno for .£2l only the other day, but stated that the greater portion of this sum had since cono to liquidate other debts. Mr. Shaw was of opinion that Bainton had made a most" deliberate attempt to escape from his creditors, and pointed out that practices like thia were not to be tolerated. To those who were in debt to such an extent that they felt unable to cope with their difficulties, the law afforded a remedy, which unfortunately was only too easy a one. Bainton was then ordered to pay the J835 forthwith, or go to prison for 21 days. Bainton elected to go to prison.