BREACH OF PROMISE CASE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20800, 20 August 1929, Page 10

BREACH OF PROMISE CASE.

\ ' BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDINGS FOLLOW. V CROWN .SOLICITOR TO INVESTIGATE. (Special to Daily Times.) AUCKLAND, August It). An application that the affairs of Thomas Whitncal Churches, farm labourer, bankrupt (Mr Conlan), should be placed in the hands of the Crown solicitor for such action as he might sec fit to take, was made by Mr Singer, solicitor for the only creditor in the estate, at the first meeting to-day. The deputy official assignee (Mr Crowhurst) intimated that ho would accede to the request. Churches wag recently proceeded against in the Supreme ourt for the recovery of damages awarded against him for breach of promise to marry, but no action could be taken as it was found during the hearing that Churches had filed a petition in bankruptcy. The schedule showed a debt of £285 9s to nu unsecured creditor, the woman who was the plaintiff in the breach of promise case. The assets were stated to be a motor cycle \allied at £3O, and wages due £7, leavim r a deficiency of £249 9s. n In a written statement the bankrupt said that he was a labourer and bad been working on his father’s farm since February, 1925. He received £2 a week and board. On August 22, 1928, a judgment of the Supremo- Court was given against him for £2.jo. Just prior to the hearing of the case be sold his ear, which had been damaged in an accident, for £25. Judgment with costs amounted to £286 9b, and was still outstanding. Ho said he had not had the means to pay the debt, and consequently had been forced into bankruptcy. . In reply to Mr Singer, the bankrupt admitted that be had spent £l5O in one month m Australia and had received that amount in one sum in cash from his father. He had bought a motor cycle, paying £25 down in cash. The receipt was made out in his brother’s name because the bankrupt was not sure that -be would be able to complete the payments. He eventually completed the deal, paying in all £SB. His brother bad a motor cycle of bis own at that time, but lie got rid of it about three months ago. Bankrupt had used the machine, which wag in bis brother’s name, up to the time of the bankruptcy.