CONTRACTING DEBTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18341, 6 March 1923, Page 5

CONTRACTING DEBTS.

CHARGE AGAINST BANKRUPT. COMMITTAL FOB TRIAL. A charge that being adjudged a bankrupt he contracted a debt of £146 8s which he could not have had any reasonable of probable expectation of paying as well as his other debts was preferred against John Brittain (Mr. Schramm) in the Police Court yesterday. Accused was further charged that within three years before the presentation by him of a bankruptcy petition he obtained certain poultry by falsely representing that he had | already paid his outstanding accounts. Mr. Paterson appeared for the prosecu lion. Evidence was given that accused was adjudged a bankrupt on his own petition !on December 30. The schedule showed liabilities to unsecured creditors amountI ing to £1371 10s. Percy Douglas Jones, manager for J. Jones, auctioneer and merchant, said that accused was indebted to his firm for £.146 8s for poultry supplied during August, September, and October, and for freight charges. Accused had dealt with the firm since March last, and until August had paid cash on delivery. During that month he asked for and "obtained credit. In September ho obtained goods valued at £53 on credit and goods valued at £85 on credit in October. Ho obtained the last of the goods on the representation that he had paid the previous account. After the sale witness found that this statement was incorrect. The accounts had not been paid. Civil proceedings had been taken against accused, but he filed his petition of bankruptcy. Detective Barling said that when arrested at the railway station on the morning of February 27 accused said he had come up from Wellington on the same matter, and had intended to call on the P °Acciised pleaded not guilty, reserved his defence, and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Bail was allowed.