MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXX, Issue 142, 17 June 1896, Page 2

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

CHARGES UNDER THE BANKRUPTCY ACT, The hearing of the charges against Walter Neame, contractor, of Longford, was resumed before Mr H. W. Robinson, S.M. at the Magistrate's Court to-day. Tbe information first beard was that accused did not deliver up to the Official Assignee all property i. namely 37 pigs and various articles) in his custody as required oy the Bankruptcy Act. Mr Fell appeared for the Official Assignee and Mr Maginnity for , the accused. In opening the case Mr Fell said that the charges were of a much more seriouß character than had at first appeared to be the case. Mr Fell then outlined the circumstances which led up to the present charge, which he said pointed to a remarkable procedure on the part of the bank- ! rupt, who had directed an employe 1 to hide certain of his property. Some of the property was hidden in a pond, some buried in the ground, some hidden in the bush, whilst the cattle and pigs were driven into •secluded parts of tho bush. Goneral plants had been made in every direction. Property which had not been hidden had been so mutilated as to render it unsaleable, Arthur Ashton Scaife, Deputy Official Assignee, gave evidence as to the assets in tho estate. The proceeds from the assets which came into his hands amounted to £ils Bs6d. Witness had heard of other assets which had not come into his hands. Thomas &. Bennett, oattle dealer, who acted aa bailiff and agent {or the Deputy Official Assignee in colleotfng the estate of tbe accused, also gave evidence. Witness produced a list ■ showing the furniture allowed the accused for his own use. Witness specified the property whioh he took possession of and- also that whioh was missing. Accused told witness that the things had been " put away" by a man who had been working for him. Witness told accused that ho had batter get the man to show where the missing property was, to whioh accused replied "The man is a very curious fellow and be could moke nothing of him." Nsame went to look for the man, but returned without finding biro, and said he would try to find the property next day. Witness want to Neome's plaoe on four different days, continuing his searoh. Forty-seven pigs were mustered without difficulty, A eiiddle and some harness were found in a gravel pit. The things were mouldy and seemed to have been " iiooidentfilly " left there. Witness was unable to find a lot of things named in a list supplied him by tbe Official Aa ignee. After tho Queen's Birthday witness again went to Neamo's place and got some more property, inoluding nine head of oattle. Cross-examined : Witness said that the gravel pit where some of the property was found was about 20 yards from tbe main road. Tbe sacks looked as if they had been used to oonceal the goods — they might have been to protect the goods from the weather. There was ho concealment about the pigs. Witness lost some while driving them home, but got 47 home altogether. Two or throe of tbe pigs belonged to Mr Warne, who said ho wouldn't bother about them. Neame did not prevent witness from getting the pigs. The horses wero not concealed, Mrs Neame told witness he bad no righb to take' the Bonny Doon filly, as it belonged to her. Witness remembered Neame telling him that some goods were in the barn, but he did not make a thorough soaro'h. He did not finu any "plant." His instructions \?eie to recover 10 pigs, but he got 47 as they were there. He' got 0 cattle out 'of the 25. He was told that j Neame's crag had been damaged' by an accident, Lilywejl, \a Jfeame's employ, said lie linil takgu the ohaff.cutter to pieces and hidden some of the parts to annoy Neame, with whom he had quarrelled. (.Left Sitting).