PRISONER AS BANKRUPT.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VII, Issue 2031, 18 August 1920, Page 11

PRISONER AS BANKRUPT.

COMPULSORY EXAMINATION. MIXED MATRIMONIAL AFFAIB9. In pursuance of an order of the Supreme Court, Henry Thomas Hurrell, who is at present serving a sentence at Paparua Prison for bigamy, was examined in bankruptcy this morning, before the Official Assignee, Mr A. W. Eames. Hurrell was formerly in business as a saddler, at Te Puke, Bay of Plenty, under the name of J. T. Brown. Three Auckland creditors were represented by Mr James Rider, for whom Mr W. J. Sim appeared, Hurrell, examined by Mr Sim, said that, in 1915, he left Manurewa, where he had been living, and went to Te Puke, where he was employed as a saddler by a man named Flynn, receiving £2 14/a week. This afterwards increased to £3, though he never worked full time. After working for a little while at Whakatane, he started in business for himself at Te Puke, in May, 1918. At that time he had about £3O capital. He borrowed £2O from one J. P. Gray, but repaid it in a few months. Mr Sim askeTl bankrupt whether he was not married about this time. After thinking about it, Hurrell said: " I don't know. I must have been." Mr Sim: It doesn't seem to hare made a great impression on you. Hurrell: Don't be hard. I am not particularly clear. . . . Yes, I think I can safely say I was married then. Questioned further, the bankrupt said that his wife had no means. She worked with him a good deal in the shop, and helped to keep the books. Ho worked very hard —often till late at night. He was doing well, and just when he was about to take stock he was taken away. He estimated that his takings averaged £IOO a month, but he could not say defm itely, because he had never taken a balance. In the first month they were £39, and, in the last month, £lB7. The expenses of the business and his household were not more than £6 a week. When he had to leave, the book debts were worth about £3OO, the stock about £4OO, and his furniture about £75. He paid all accounts, except smaller personal expenses, by cheque. In the last halfyear he paid £9OO into the bank. He bought tools to the value of about £4O during the period, and household furniture to the value of £4O or £SO. Apart from this and the ordinary expenses of the business and of his household, he paid out. nothing. Without his books he could not say how his profits had disappeared. Hurrell was examined at some length about a property at Henderson which nt one time he was supposed to own. He said that he told his wife that he had such a property, and that he would will it to her. This was a lie. Mr Sim: You were living on affectionate terms with vour wife? Hurrell: Which one? Mr Sim: Your wife at Te Puke. Hurrell: Yes! I was! He added that he had no property whatever except tilts business and stock at Te Puke. N T o property came to him while he was in business.

It was resolved that all further proceedings be transferred to the jurisdiction of the Official Assignee at Auckland*