BREACH-BROKE

NZ Truth, Issue 1045, 5 December 1925, Page 9

BREACH-BROKE

Evolution of Matthew Raper— Lover and Bankrupt, Also Prisoner Owes Over £2,400, Including £2;000 to Mrs. Henderson, and is Released from Gaol After Examination m Sydney (From "Truth's" Special Sydney Representative.) r. '

Such is the statement of the financial affairs of Matthew Jefferson Raper (23), bankrupt, as revealed m a preliminary examination couducted by the Official Assignee, Mr. F. W. Lloyd, before Mr. Justice Long lnnes, Judge m Bankruptcy at Sydney recently. J His affairs may be summarised thus —no money, and no work. Raper, as disclosed m evidence m the recent sensational breach of promise actions against him, reported m "Truth" of October 31, has been accustomed to moving m the best .social circles. His arrival m court was direct from a week-end spent as the guest of His Majesty at Long Bay. He had' been a lodger m that historical wing of the palace known as the Debtor's Tower. The examination was a form of court ritual necessary to his departure from the royal domicile. On the clay before Raper voluntarily sequestrated his estate. By the time his application for release was heard, the public had almost completely forgotten him m its annual turf sensation. Raper arrived m court m the custody of Sheriff Murphy. He was not quite as spruce, but appeared just as quiet-mannered and self-possessed as was the case m his earlier struttings upon the public stage. Mr. A. V. Maxwell (instructed by Messrs. J. Stuart Thorn and Co.), appeared on *Raper's behalf, and Mr. Monahan (instructed by Mr. Mervyn Findlay) appeared for the judgment creditor, Mrs. Henderson. "You are a single man, are you not?" was a preliminary question put by the assignee. "I am," was the significant reply. < He first .came to ? Australia, Raper said, 17 years agoi lie had since visited England twice, returning the latter

[time m 1022. Since then he had worked as a clerk for his father m the woolbuying business at 33 Macquarie-place. Mr. Lloyd:- Have you a bank account? — I did have one. There's nothing left m it now. The account at the present time stands at ]/7 m credit? — Yes. During the past few months. Raper said he had borrowed just on £240. He owned "no land save that at Roseville, and had no other assets — land, money, stocks or shares, or even an interest m any will. But he might have been insured; he didn't know. He did not even have a job. Mr. Monahan pressed for some undertaking .conditional to Raper's release from custody, but Mr. Maxwell objected. "My client need not be subjected to this unnecessary additional indignity," he said t and offered his own' personal undertaking. . "That makes it easier for me,'{ remarked his Honor, and ruled: "Applicant, by his counsel, undertaking not to leave the jurisdiction before undergoing his public examination, I order his discharge from custody on the terms that he pay Sheriff's costs and poundage, i and judgment creditor's costs mci I dental to arrest and this examination." Mr. Maxwell asked for 2S days to pay. Whereupon- the Sheriff produced his little bill — £54/7/9 — and objected. Mr. Monahan did likewise. "We all know," he said, "where the money is raised m such cases as this." Mr. Maxwell: My client has lost his position. He needs reasonable time to get the money. His Honor allowed the 28 days. So M. J. Raper is again a free man — comparatively.

His next' appearance will be m "public examination."

ASSETS. Block of land at Roseville, £440, on which instal- • ments amounting to £116/12/- have been paid ' .. £116 12 0 Cash at Bankers . . 0 17 >' £116 13 7 .. .. .. £2422/12/10.

LIABILITIES. Elaine Myra Henderson .. £2000 0 0 Harry Raper — Legal e*s. paid: June 15, '25 .. 50 0 0 June 25* '25 .. 100 0 0 Oct. 16, '25 v- . 169 6 S Loans: ' April 15, '25 .. 50 0 0 May 18, '25 .. 20 0 0 May 21, '25 .. 30 0 0 June 12, '25 .. 100 0 0 July 7, '25 .. 20 0 0 £2539 6 5 Deficiency . . . . ■ •