A Curious Case.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XX, Issue 6247, 4 May 1895, Page 1

A Curious Case.

(by telegraph.) Christchuroh, . May 3. A meeting of the creditors of Arthur John Cuming,manager of " Woman and Man," an entertainment lately opened here, was held to-day. The liabilities were stated at L 592 17s, and . the assets L 377. Bankrupt's statement was to the effect that he had been asked to run an entertainment in aid of Sc. Mary's Roman Catholic Schools. He sketched out the plan of the present entertainment, which was approved by Father Le Menant des Chesnais. He hired the theatre, had handbills printed, and made other arrangements, when he received a letter from the priest that as he had no money he would not be made responsible for any loss incurred on account of . the show. If Cumings, however, saw his way to getting enough money to run Jifc from advertisements and intending', Exhibitors well and good. The bankrupt then continued the affair on liis, own responsibility, but intended to hand any profit to the school for the benefit of which it had been planned. At the end of the first week of the show he -found he had not enough money to pay .the rent of the theatre, and after some negotiations with the landlord,' the' employees and performers took over ' the show tor what they could make of it. The bankrupt stated that by a verbal arrangement with the .parish priest he was to receive 25 per cent, on any profit over L6OO, the amount of the school debt. If the profit was below L6OO he was to receive nothing. After the examination of the bankrupt had been concluded, the meeting adjourned so that Father Le Menant des Chesnais might be heard.