BAILIFFS EMPTY FLATS

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 May 1930, Page 12

BAILIFFS EMPTY FLATS

WOMAN DRAWS REVOLVER

Angry scenes took place at a block of flats in Victoria Street, Darlinghurst, New South Wales, when bailiffs entered the building and seized all the furniture of the 20 tenants who occupied nine flats. Shortly after seven o’clock a large number of carriers swarmed into the building and immediately began to seize everything within reach. There was no warning, and, some of the occupants were even disturbed at their dinner.

Tables, chairs, wardrobes, crockery —everything—were swept away before the astonished eyes of the tenants. Someone had defaulted, but the flat dwellers said it was not them.

They had paid their rent regularly. In fact, some had paid in advance. All kinds of threats to “get square” were uttered as the residents stood in their rooms while they were ransacked. One woman drew a revolver, but it was not used.

The argument was so fierce in some of the flats that crockery and furniture were broken. As the Tcmovalists entered one tenement the woman occupier retrieved two grilled chops, and standing in the middle of her empty diningroom, she abused the removalists ai she gnawed the chops. Some were lucky enough to find accommodation for the night, but others said they would have to sleep on the bare boards or under the stars, for they were practically destitute.