OLD DEBT ALLEGED

Manawatu Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 4415, 8 November 1934, Page 3

OLD DEBT ALLEGED

AGAINST SIR CHARLES KINGSFORD SMITH.

MACHINE ATTACHED.

Los Angeles, November 5.

Irony tinged the homage paid to Sir Charles Kingsford Smith to-day when the Lady Southern Cross was attached and an action filed, against him in the Municipal Court for 2750 dollars by Mr Thomas R. Catton, promoter, who alleges that Sir Charles became indebted to him for that sum while in California in 1928.

The papers were served while Sir Charles and Captain Taylor were receiving calls in their hotel suite. Astonished by the action, Sir Charles immediately summoned an attorney who prepared an answer denying all the allegations. Catton claimed that he performed “wort, labour and services and advanced money” in connection with the preparations for the first flight from California to Australia. Under the Californian laws it will be necessary for Sir Charles to post a 5500-dollar bond to obtain release of the machine, which is now in possession of the DeputyMarshal.

Sir Charles is indignant, and told the Australian Press Association: “It is absolutely absurd, ridiculous and preposterous. The idea of'this fellow charging that he advanced money. He might have bought me a cigar, but if any money was advanced I advanced it to him. I mean to fight him to the last and when the case is over T shall follow up with a damages suit against him.” Records show that Catton filed a similar complaint in 1928 in San Francisco, but it was dismissed ' last week to permit of action being brought here.