BANKRUPT BUILDER

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 11785, 22 March 1924, Page 5

BANKRUPT BUILDER

CHARGED WITH ABSCOHDIHC alleged fraudulent operations IN TWO YEARS. ARRESTED IN MELBOURNE. (Special to “N.Z. Times.”} AUCKLAND, March 20. The bankrupt builder and contractor, George Morris, aged 33, was to-day committed to the Supreme Court for trial at the next quarterly criminal sessions, on a charge that on May 6th, 1923, lie did quit New Zealand, taking with him part of his property, the sum of £2O and upwards, that ought by law to be divided among his creditors. Morris, who was represented by Mr Finlay, was allowed bail in five sureties of £IOO each, and in his own recognisance of £SOO.

Accused, according to the evidence given at the Police Court to-day, was declared a bankrupt on May 18th, 1923, on creditors’ petition. The first meeting of creditors was on June Ist, and there had been several meetings since. Morris had not attended any meetings. The debts ■ proved were:—Ordinary debts, £5153 2s lOd; wages, £224 6s Td; making a total of £5377 9s sd. The assets realised were: —Stock in trade, £79 9s; equity in house property, £8 8s; a total of £B7 17s. The deficiency was £5288 12s sd. It had been ascertained that Morris had an acoount at the Union Bank of Australia and the Bank of New Zealand. He had no balance to his credit in either bank, nor in any other bank. DENIED HIS IDENTITY.

Constable Anniss, of Kingsland, deposed to having gone to Melbourne in February, to identify accused, who had been arrested by the Melbourne police. When arrested he was .working under the name of Leslie Davis, and he had

denied bis identity. He admitted his identity to witness. On the way back to New Zealand accused told witness that he had left Wellington for Sydney on quitting New Zealand. The general manager of the Kauri Timber Company deposed that accused had dealings with the firm, and obtained credit. Accused owed the firm £495. An accountant, till recently in the employ of Messrs J. J. Craig, Ltd., stated that accused owed that firm £257. The manager of the Totara Timber Company, stated that accused owed the company £358 7s 10d. 'Hie sum of £347 13s was said to he owing to- Messrs Briscoe’s, Ltd., £551 5s lOd to Messrs Henderson and Pollard timber merchants. Mount Eden, and £606 6s 7d to Messrs Winstone, Ltd. Other evidence of a formal character was given at length. F. W. Weston, journalist, deposed to having paid accused £2O in May, 1923, as a progress payment for work done. Other witnesses deposed to having made payments to accused, whose operation* extended over a period of two' years, from April, 1921, till May, 1923.