STORY OF DIAMONDS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21937, 22 October 1934, Page 12

STORY OF DIAMONDS

BANKRUPTCY CASE SEARCHING QUESTIONS For the third time within a month Henry Lewis, diamond 'merchant, appeared in the Bankruptcy Court in Melbourne recently, for public examination of his affairs. Searching questions were asked by Mr. Justice Lukin and Mr. E. G. Coppel, who, instructed bj- the Commonwealth Solicitor, appeared for the Inspector-General in Bankruptcy, Lewis described a robbery in 1932, in which he said he had lost £IO,OOO worth of loose diamonds. Lewis, whose estate was assigned on January 26, 1933, was examined before the registrar last year, end again before Mr. Justice Lukin on September 11 and 12 of this year. Ho was warned about tho, nature of his answers during the last hearing. At the adjourned hearing Mr. Coppel asked: In August, 1932, you had, according to your statement, £12,000 or £14,000 worth of loose diamonds? Lewis: I cannot tell you exactly. Will you give us some idea? —I cannot. _Mr. Justice Lukin: Ob, come; you can tell us within £IOOO or so. Lewis: I cannot, Your Honor. Mr. Justice Lukin: I will not accept that evidence; you will have to answer the question. Lewis said when the question was put again that there might have been £20,000 worth of diamonds, or as little as £IB,OOO worth. Mr. Coppel: On August 17, 1932, did you have two wallets in the safe containing loose diamonds?—l had one wallet locked in a private box and one in the safe. Wljen you assigned your estate at least £IO,OOO worth of diamonds were missing, compared with what there had been in August, 1932? —Yes. And do I understand you to say that vou lost that £IO,OOO worth on August 17, 1932? Yes. , Lewis said that be took about £IO,OOO- - of diamonds away with him on the evening of August 17. Ho drove from Daylesford toward Ballarat, and was held up and robbed about three miles on the Ballarat side of Creswick. Two men held him up, standing one on each side of the car. A third "messed about" with the engine, and a fourth stayed in the car in which tbe bandits arrived. During an argument between Mr. Coppel and Mr. Eager, counsel for Lewis, about the admission of evidence given in the Supreme Court, Mr. Justice Lukin said: "Lewis must give a satisfactory explanation of what became of some of his property. At present I got an impression of this witness from himself. 1 have heard people say •that they wore robbed on previous occasions." The examination was adjourned sine die.