A DUKE'S AFFAIRS

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 155, 29 December 1936, Page 3

A DUKE'S AFFAIRS

SOUGHT RICH MARRIAGE

When the Duke of Leinster, of Portland Place, London, was asked at London Bankruptcy Court why he incurred a good deal of debt in 1928, he explained that he conceived the idea of marrying somebody rich, says the "Daily Telegraph."

"I did that deliberately," he added. "I went to America, and was on the point of marrying, but did not go on with it. During my stay there, however, very heavy liabilities were run

The Duke's statement of affairs showed gross liabilities £139,233,' of which £79,989 are unsecured and £138,943 expected to rank for dividend. Assets' were nil.

Of the liabilities £58,954 represented the balance of debts proved in previous bankruptcies. Examined by Mr. L." A. West, Official Receiver, the Duke agreed that in July, 1918, two orders of adjudication were annuled on payment of his debts in fuii. ' , ■•.-;....■ In 1919 he was again adjudged bankrupt. His liabilities then amounted to £31,000. Another receiving order was made against him in 1922, when his liabilities totalled £56,000 exclusive of the debts in the previous bankruptcies. The trustees paid, dividends in two bankruptcies. * The Official Receiver: Have you ever obtained your discharge from the 1919 bankruptcy or the 1922 bankruptcy? —No. You have not applied for it?— No. NO INCOME OF HIS OWN. The Duke agreed that from 1922 onwards he had no income that he might call his own. Until 1928, when he tried to resuscitate his fortunes by marrying an American lady, he lived within the voluntary allowance of £1000 a year. Ever since he became. the • Duke efforts had been made to repurchase the estates. There had been the right to repurchase within 10 years for £400,000, and he still relied on something being done to make the repurchase. ' . The Official Receiver: In 1928, for some reason, you "broke out" again, and incurred a good deal of debt, extravagantly?— For a purpose. Were you living at an extravagant rate? —Yes, in America. Entertaining lavishly?— Yes. On your own liability?—On this money. But you had not got the money?— On borrowed money. He said that he had entered into a contract that the woman he should marry, would pay all his debts, subject to the marriage ' taking place. Questioned regarding) one loan of £2000 which he had obtained, the Duke said.that he agreed .to repay £10,000 on the proposed marriage taking place, or out of the estates repurchase scheme.

The examination was concluded.