CLAIM ON A PROMISSORY NOTE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 14, 18 January 1910, Page 3

CLAIM ON A PROMISSORY NOTE.

CASE POSSESSING REMARKABLE FEATURES. »UNEDIN, 17th January. A case possessing some remarkable features came before the Magistrate's Court to-day, when A. T. Chodowski proceeded against Lowry Appleson for recovery of £55, amount of a promissory note. After hearing the evidence the Magistrate (Mr. Widdowson) gave judgment for plaintiff for the full amount, with costs, remarking that some of defendant's stories were very extraordinary. Chodowski then proceeded against Rubena Taigan for £8 alleged to be due for goods sold and delivered. Defendant produced a receipt for the amount claimed, and' Appleson, who was until recently plaintiff's partner, admitted receiving the sum on behalf of the firm. Judgment was then given for defendant. In the afternoon counsel for Chodo\>eki applied for an order requiring Appleson to appear and submit to examination as to any debts owing by him. The Magistrate granted the order, and Appleeon was examined at considerable length. He admitted receiving £200 from plaintiff on 20th December, and £17 10s last week from another person, but said he had only £3 14s 6d left now. The .whole of the balance had been lost in betting on racecourses with bookmakers. He Raid ho was quite unable to remember the name of any person with whom he made a bet or the name of any horse on which he betted, but he adhered to the story that he had lost about £120 in this way during the past three weeks. The balance had been spent in paying debts, but he was unable to give the name of any person to whom he had paid the money. He had a little book at home in which he had made entries, and he could have answered the questions from that. The Court then made an order requiring Appleson to proceed to his lodgings with the Court bailiff and bring the book to the Court immediately. Appleson revturned half an hour later and said he had searched a portmanteau and elsewhere in the presence of the bailiff, but could not find the book. He thought perhaps the landlady's children had taken it. He then said he remembered having paid £4 to each of two men in payment of debts — a tailor named Morris received £4 and a man named Mackay £4 for breaking in a horse and for trap hire. The Magistrate interjected : Of course, I cannot believe a word this witness says Application for immediate execution of the judgment was made, with a view to- proceeding in bankruptcy and calling defendant to account. The order was made as asked. KNYVETT CASE. AUCKLAND,, 17th January. The deputation appointed at Friday night's meeting regarding the Knyvett case left for Wellington to-night, having arranged to interview the Prime ■Minister on Wednesday morning. CHARGE DISMISSED. NAPIER. 17th January. Joseph O'Connell, labourer, of Port Ahuriri, was to-day charged on remand with attempting to commit suicide there. A constable deposed that OConnellhad a few words with his wife and then ran off and jumped into the water at the Iron Pot. In reply to a question the constable said he did not think O'Connell intended to commit suicide, for he saw him swimming aboutt The charge was dismissed.