MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXX, Issue 141, 16 June 1896, Page 2

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

CHARGES tTNDEIt THE BANKRUPTCY ACT.

The hearing of the obarges against Walter Neame, contractor, ol Longford, for alleged breaches of the Bankruptcy Act, was continued yesterday before Mr H. W. Robinson, S.M. Mr Maeinnity" appeared for the de-' fehdant, and Mr Pell for tho Official Assignee. • _, ■ . The -.accused, continuing hta evidence on his own behalf, said be had not gone intohj. financial position until the time of filing. With an ordinary term of credit he believed he would We been

able to pay his detts. lie expected compensation for loss of his road contract and tbe first preference Of any work after that contract ; relying on the promise of Mr Snodgrass (District Surveyor) to this' effeot. Mr .Dixon, onej'of ' the Road Inspectors, had told him he wonld get compensation. Had he not been forced into, bankruptcy he believed he could have' paid off hia debts. v Cross-examined by Mr .Fells Witness could not say the state of his bank account at the time of -ordering goods from Wilkins and Field and wben be contracted other debts in November, Deceomber, and January. Witness also had hopes of making money by prospective winnings of a horse racing at Hampden. He also had cattle and stock, This concluded the case in respect to the first information, and His Worship at the request of counsel deferred his decision until after the hearing of the other charges. The hearing of the second information was then proceeded with. Neame was charged with obtaining a gun and other articles, the whole valued at £_ 18s, with-' out 'having reasonable and probable expectation of the means to pay for same. Evidence was heard, the ciroumstances being similar to those in the previous case. Under cross-examination the accused admitted having lost £30 at the Nelson races last March twelvemonths. His horse won two events at the Hampden races on Boxing Day, but was scratched for the big events, which he expeoted to pull ofl. The horse was scratched in consequence of the rider engaged not being available. The Court then heard a similar charge against the accused in respect of a dent contracted with Messrs Levien Bros., (£l6 5s 6d), and W. Moves jun. (£ll 2s). Evidence was given by B. N. Levien (who stated that beyond asking for an invoice the accused made no representation as to payment) and William Moyes. In each tiasa the goods had been ordered by letter. There had been previous transactions with Neame, who had paid up, but he had not paid the accounts which were the subject of the present charges. The Deputy Official Assignee (Mr A. A. Scaife) also gave evidence, and the defendant was heard on his own behalf. A fourth information charging accused with contracting a debt of £27 10s with Mr Geo Rutherford was nexb heard. The evidence in this case was to the effect that accused, on behalf of his wife, had ordered a trap from Mr Rutherford, and had remitted £15 on account for its payment out of Mrs Neame 's money. The money was derived from the winnings of two ot Mrs Neame's horses at the Hampden races.

Mr Fell said that this finished the four kindred informations charging the accused with contracting debts, not having any reasonable and probable ground or expectation of paying them. There were some other informations to be heard.

The Court then adjourned till next day. The further hearing of ihe case has been adjourned until to-morrow morning in consequence of the press of civil business ab the Court to-day.