THE HARPER CRASH.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6986, 26 May 1894, Page 2

THE HARPER CRASH.

Wellington, yesterday. Mr Fisher, continuing his argument m the Appeal Court m the Harper case, said George Harper took a very serious view °- the crisis m the firm's affairs m 1885, and knew then that clients' money was m jeopardy. He also knew that things m the trust departmenb were getting very much m arrears, and he must bherefore take the consequences. In July, 1890, he was j informed thab the trust account showed a deficiency of £15,000, bub he still allowed brust money to be paid into the account. Mr Stringer, who also appeared for tbe Law Society, said he did not believe George Harper had been actuated by any personal fraud or dishonesty, yet professional misconduct must be punished, and a breaoh of duty against a client m connecbion with trust funds was clearly professional misconduct. Mr Stringer concluded his argument m Harper's case early m the afternoon, and Sir Robert Stout having duly replied, the Chief Justice intimated thab bhe Court would reserve its decision untilargumenb m Maude's case had been heard. A letter was read from Mr Justice Williams explaining thab he had been obliged on behalf of a near relative to take steps to recover irom. Harper's firm-certain sums of money, and he thought it waß very undesir- " -aTneH^.-nesl-6urtt siton tbe cage m which George Harper's conduct was called into question. A motion calling upon Thomas William Maude, late of the firm of Harper and Co., to show cause why he should not be suspended or struck off the rolls was then argued. Mr Fisher represented the Canterbury Law Society m support of the motion, and Mr Joynt appeared on behalf of Maude. Mr Joynt referred m detail to the management of the office, and said that Leonard Harper and Parkerson had plunged into reckless speculations with the money of the trust account, the latter actually plundering from it thousands of pounds m almost every possible way. Parkerson had robbed this accounb, and m doing so was acting with the full sanction of Leonard Harper. The latter had let his partners into this terrible quagmire, and instead of coming forward to bear his share of the trouble had betaken himself to some remote part of the world. Mr Joynt had not finished his address when the Court arose for the day. .. _ , To-day. Maude's case was resumed m the Appeal Court to-day. Mr Joynt finished his address, and Mr Fisher spoke briefly m support of the motion on behalf of the Canterbury Law Society. He said his firm had been advised by the last 'Frisco mail that all endeavors to find Leonard Harper had proved futile. This closed the case, and the Court intimated that it would give its decision on both caseß on Monday morning.