SUPREME COURT

Greymouth Evening Star, 31 October 1931, Page 2

SUPREME COURT

BANKRUPT CONVICTED. [PEB PBESS ASSOCIATION.] CHRISTCHURCH, October 30. In the Supreme Court, the trial concluded of Frederick Ashley Neale, a bankrupt, for alleged failure to keep' proper books, and two charges of contracting debt without the expectation of ability to pay. Evidence for the prosecution was given by the Official Assignee, and two accountants. They stated that Neal’s books were inadequate, and it would be impossible from them to make out a balance sheet. The prisoner, in evidence, said that he had sold sixty-five houses iu a single year. He had lived on six pounds weekly, and had always known his position perfectly. In April, 1929, he had assets worth £23,000. In November, 1930, witness made out a balance sheet in which, after writing down farm properties £3,200 below cost, he showed a surplus of assets of £13,540. The slump did not affect him until this year, or in about November of last year, when he found it impossible to get in mortgage moneys. Ernest William Lewington. accountant, said that in June 1930, he examined the prisoner's books, and concluded his assets exceeded his liabilities by £15.000. John Ball Jones, Manager of Packer and Jones, Ltd., said his firm had purchased two properties out of Neal’s estate, selling one three days later at a profit of £125. On the two prope*’ties the estate had lost £7OO. The jury found Neale guilty of having failed to keep proper books, and not guilty of the other charges. MANAGER’S THEFTS. CHRISTCHURCH, October 30. Ernest Couper Smith, aged fortysix, pleaded not guilty in the Supreme Court yesterday to the following charge: “That between April 10 and August 5, 1934, he did steal goods to the value of £968/5/6, the property of Maling and Co.” In his opening, the Crown Prosecutor said that Smith was engaged as manager by Maling and Co. That firm took over a business known as Aitchison, Steans, and Co., and put Smith in charge. That concern became known as Christy’s, Ltd., and Smith was left in charge. Smith, it was held, sent a large quantity of goods to Ashburton, where he opened a shop, put a man in charge and called the place the Bargain Stores. Smith said he was buying the goods, but the money was not paid to Malings. The proceeds of the Ashburton sales were used to buy more stock from other firms. The jury retired at 5 p.m., and returned at 7.55 p.m., with a verdict of guilty. “We recommend mercy owing to the state of his health, and the health of his family,” said the foreman. Smith was remanded till Monday morning for sentence. INSURANCE FRAUD WELLINGTON, October 30. For making a false declaration concerning losses by fire on his farm in Ohariu Valley, Gilbert Hamilton McMeeking was found guilty by a jury to-day, and was remanded by Justice McGregor for sentence. The case concerned a separator, motor and manure sower, which were classed as lost in the fire that destroyed a shed. Subsequently the separator and the motor were discovered in good order in another part of the farm. A policy for £4OO was taken out with the State Office, which paid the full amount. DUNEDIN DECISIONS. DUNEDIN, October 30. In the Supreme Court to-day, John Reid, ex-schoolmaster, was found not guilty on a charge of indecently assaulting boys in the Balclutha School, on dates between October 1926, and October 1930. Samuel James Douglas, aged 59 years, was sentenced to four months’ hard labour for indecently assaulting a girl under 16 years of age. Evan Kenneth McGillivray, aged 24, years, for the theft of £275, from the Shell Oil Co. was ordered to be detained one year for reformative purposes.