A New Trial

NZ Truth, Issue 1146, 17 November 1927, Page 9

A New Trial

TO the Government embargo on California!? fruit, Alfred Georgp Wallace attributed his financial downfall. As a fruit dealer and agent m 1921, he set up m business on his own account and prospered—until the oinbarflo knocked the : bQttom out of his business. . Wallao© struggled on, but became engulfed m the treacherous quicksands; of the financial sea and at . the end of last May showed debts to the extent of something like £7000. He filed his petition m bankruptcy the following November. N Thus it came about that Wallace was charged . with three offences under the Bankruptcy Act, m that he had contracted debts while a bankrupt and without reasonable expectation of paying them/ He faced his trial before * Mr. Justice Ostler and a jury m the Wellington Supreme Court last^week. A large number of < produce merchants were called for the defence to testify to Wallace's dealings. They were all agreed that he. was an able auctioneer; m the first few years of his business he had done remarkably well, but it "was the embargo that settled him financially. After lengthy evidence the jury retired, but during four hours' de 4 liberation failed .to come to a decision. Wallace will have to stand his trial again next February. |ffl!!lil!!|lliillililili(l(lliiiliilliiil«ilt^