MUDDLE OF DUNEDIN ESTATE

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 9 March 1935, Page 8

MUDDLE OF DUNEDIN ESTATE

DECEASED PATENT ATTOEXEY. LOSS THEOUGH~EMBEZZLEMENT. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) DUNEDIN, March 8. A deficiency of over £I3OO was shown in the bankrupt estate of the late Eobert Wales, patent attorney, at. a creditors’ meeting; yesterday. The assignee stated that the number of creditors were very large, mostly consisting of persons who had entrusted Wales with the task of obtaining patents. The public was entitled to ask why the position was not known earlier. The fact was that about £IOOO belonging to Wales’ Wellington office had been embezzled. Wales had not prosecuted the offender because on account of the nature of the business he had feared actions for damages. "This man embezzled money in a miserable way,” said the assignee, "and landed Wales‘in this trouble. The whole thing was a tragedy as regards Wales.” The position in regard to patents I was most unfortunate, said the assignee, not only for local creditors but also for others at a distance. It was I stated that the position seemed to be I that the patents in Wales’ hands had actually lapsed. The estate was left I in the hands of the assignee.