THE MAJOR AND THE LADIES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7091, 27 August 1901, Page 3

THE MAJOR AND THE LADIES.

In the Bankruptcy Division, London1 a few weeks ago, a sitting was held for the public examination of Abner Torkingtori, financial agent, of Glynn Avenue, Doncaster, Yorkshire, formerly of Herne Bay, Kent, and Tavistock-street, Covent Garden. The debtor applied to pass upon accounts showing unsecured debts of £2533 and assets nil. Examined by Mr Abinger, on' behalf of the Misses E. J.andC.ll. Hartshorne, of TTxbridge, the debtor-stated that he was known to the Misses Hartshornes as ■ Major Torkingtbn. He had been a major in"the 2nd Tower Hamlets Volunteers. He was introduced to' the ladies by the secretary of a company, the name of which he did nofremember. He denied that,hc eyer told them that he had an income of £14,000 a year. So far as he oould remember,'he had.not received more than between £3000 and £4000.

Mr Abinger: You are aware that they have put in proofs against your estate for £9792?; .. :..■ : -:- :^-.-,•. .-• •■. ~-■.• I dispute the larger amount. j Mr Abinger : I am going to show that you ruined .them. ; WiU.you swear-that you did not have £10,000 from them? : j-.. Certainly not. I was saving theiii. (Laughter;). ■••'■' "..;.:.;.■. v: ...... Continuing, debtor said;that*the fransactionswith these ladies consisted of loans and repayments, and^that they required a/great deal of interest on their money, which 'they .were-.l- investing through him..; He admitted the sum of £690, the proceeds of the sale of a certain property in Essex.1 That sum was lent .to I him. It was certainly not arranged that he should h^nd over that money-at once. :. ... • Mr Abinger': You were there every week were.yqu not P - ■" ' . I went there very of ten, of course, .': Mr Abinger :'And getting money every day week—£2so a week, as I shall prove. :::: ' •'' i Debtor said that he was making investments for; them every week. Being pressecQie admitted thatlie was engaged in the varioits;-;company ■-.matteia,: aridmade v; use \ of" "the money they lent him, ;he .paying" a heavy interest. He'- remembered; one interview' he'had with one of- the ladies,'at Euston, wliile she was' en the way,to Ireland. They 'had'luncheon•'tbgether, .and. he gave her some money, which was> what she,wanted; . ; Further -examined, debtor admitted that the"money was really a loan: to' him.,to make investments with. "Unfortunately, the turned out to be. of .no, ; use, and the money had been lost. ',;•, •'."; Mr Abinger:' And ypu went down to her house .and got from her-all the lOU's, bills, and documents she held'of yours? . .'•;." ■■^-■-•■■» ..-■;■;-. - She said they were^of no .use, and gave them to me,-;;asvshe had-Ker own 'cheques... •'■'.- \/-/SC-'- [■ .r.\y?''~~ ■ :', Th& case was eventually adjourned.