IN OTHER CENTRES

Evening Star, Issue 21010, 26 January 1932, Page 10

IN OTHER CENTRES

GAOL FOR INQUIRY AGENT. “ The whole thing was a hoax, really blackmail,” said Chief-detective Carroll at Christchurch to-day when Joseph Hepburn, aged forty-six years, a private inquiry agent, faced three charges of false pretences concerning sums of money received from Eva Nicholls. Hepburn pleaded guilty and was sentenced to a month, with hard labour. The police said he pretended to draw up a bond covering an agreement with another party over a domestic matter, but he really did not do 3d worth of work on the case. CREDITORS SYMPATHETIC. Poor stakes at race meetings, wins narrowly missed, and drought and a general lack of business ability and experience were blamed for his failure by Royden Benjamin Berry, a horse trainer, of Templeton, who _ met his creditors this morning at Christchurch. The amount owing to unsecured creditors was £1,031, and there was £3,420 owing to secured creditors. The value of, security was estimated at £1,176. The total debts were £3,275 and the assets £B6, leaving a total deficiency of £3,188. The creditors were sympathetic, and the estate was left in the hands of the Official Assignee, and the creditors recommended him to facilitate bankrupt’s discharge.—Press Association.