MEETING OF CREDITORS OF SAMUEL WELLS.

Thames Advertiser, Volume IX, Issue 2456, 28 October 1876, Page 3

MEETING OF CREDITORS OF SAMUEL WELLS.

In response to an advertisement inviting the attendance of all persons interested in the estate of Mr S. Wells, who abruptly departed for San Francisco on Monday last in the' Australia,' a meeting was held in Auckland cn Thursday. Present-Messrs J. Eenshaw, P. Herapath, Lamb, J. Allaway, J. B, Francis, Abbott, W. Thorne, Seaman, G. W.Owen, E, Cranwell, J. T. Mason, Daines, Qayne, E. H, Hughes, Thomson, Eawlings, and Mrs Hall.—On the motion of Mr Thorne, Mr Abbot took the chair, He'.said that the first thing to do was for every gentleman who was present to prove that he was a creditor, as he supposed that they only were enabled to be present—Mr Benshaw: I object to such a proceeding. It is not in the power of overy one to produce promissory notes as documentary evidence, although the chairman might be able to do so.—Mr Herapath said that he thought all who were sufferers aa he was would like to know what assets there were iu the estate.—Mrs Mary Hall oamo forward, and said she wished to know where her deeds for 60 acres of land at the Kaipara bad gone. She had deposited them with Mr Wells some time ago, with instructions to sell, but he had delayed doing so. No one present was in a position to give Mrs Hall the desired information.— Tho Chairman then said : Is there anyone present who can throw any light on Mr Well's transactions P-Mr Allaway stepped forward to the desk at which the chairman sat, and said the misfortunes and troubles of Mr Wells were chiefly caused by a person named Abbott. Mr Wells had written a letter which he would read—Mr Allaway took a letter from his pocket but found it was the wrong one, and put it back again.—The Chairman: You made a statement just now, and I demand that you shall read the letter, —Mr Allaway: I was about to read a copy of the letter sent to me by Mr Wells.—The Chairman: You made a statement which you will have to substantiate. I have some of Mr Well's promissory notes in my possession, and they are still unpaid.-Mr Henshaw: Mr Allaway merely said what had been told him by the letter.—The Chairman to Mr Allaway: You said Mr Well's troubles had been caused by a person named Abbott: Now what light have you to throw on the question?—Mr Allaway: I did not know who Mr Abbott was, I was not aware that you were the person.—The Chairman: I hold you responsible for whafcyou said, and you will have to prove it in a Court of law.— Mr Gr. W. Owen suggested that they should inquire as to the liabilities.—The Chairman agreed with Mr Owen, and proceeded to take down the names of those present with the amount of their claims.—Mr Owen said he was a secured creditor for £40 and £296.—1t was stated by Mr Eenshaw that James Wells, the brother had made a composition with his creditors of 5s in the £1, and had borrowed money from his mother to pay it, giving her a bill of sale over his cattle as security.—Mr Gr. W. Owen stated that Mr llenshaw and Mr Kbenezer Fitness, Samuel Wells's brother-in-law, were his co-bondsmen,—Mr E. Cranwell was a creditor to the extent of £60, on a promissory note.—Mr James Lamb was a creditor for the sum of £74 12s 6d.—Mr Gayne, as representative for Mr W. F. King, said his loss was £29 6s, for rents collected—MrEenshaw's loss was £10, exclusive of the arnouut for which he is secured with Messrs Owen and Eitness. —Mr Daines had been victimised to the extent of £127 17s 6d, money entrusted to Mr Wells for investment.—Mr Eawlings was a creditor for £150.—Mr Allaway stated hjs loss to be about £56,-Mr Seaman possessed a promissory note for £50.—Mr Thome's loss was about £10.—Mr Francis, £14 8s Bd.—The Chairman then stated his loss to be £187 12s, exclusive of BonifaceSeveral gentlemen: Who is Bonifaco P— The Chairman: Mr Boulter.-Mr Mitchel, of the Kaipara, is a creditor for £90, and Mr James Ealcliffe £2 17s. Mr Wa. Eobinson was tho possessor of a promissory notefor£so.—Tbo Chairman said the total amount secured was about £746; unsecured, £966, That was all they positively knew of, but there were, of course, creditors in the country who were j not awaro of the meeting.—Mr Criiuwell: What will you give me for my note The Chairman: 1 am not on. This affair is almost as good as Hague Smith's. Mr llenshaw proposed that Mr Ewington be appointed to investigate Mr Wells' affairs. , Mr Abbott: This matter must bo probed to tho bottom. Mr Seaman said he had heard that Mr F, Gr. Ewington was one of those who had advised Mr Wells to take the step he had -a most unwarrantable stop, and although ho was Mr Wells' undo ho know l

nothing about his going. If he had known that his nephew was about to bolt, he would rather have secured him with a chain than let him go away in such a disgraceful manner. Mr Abbott: That manly statement does you infinito credit. These pious frauds must be investigated. Who was the gentleman who moved that Mr Ewington be entrusted to investigate the case. Mr Henshaw: It was I. Mr Abbott: Well, put that down. A Creditor: You're dono for, old man. The office boy here created a great sensation by .producing a box with i% 4d and a brass key in it, which he said had been left behind by Mr Wells, -. Mr Thome: It will .be necessary to appoint a trustee. (Daughter.) Mr Abbott: This is the widow's mile. The Boy: Mr S. Ooombes paid in £1 3s on Saturday, and another gent paid 15s for a license. Mr Jones, Mr Wells' landlord, took 32s for rent. ; It was stated that Mr Wells was collector of rates for the following boards: Waitakeri East and West, Mount Eden, Matakohe, Epsom, Tauhoa, Omaha, and other districts. Mr Seaman moved that Messrs Owen and Lamb be appointed to investigate the estate, and to sell the fixtures. This proposal met with general approbation, and was carried. Before tho meeting separated, the disposal of the 4s 4d formed the subject of an eager discussion. Mr Thorne: Don't let Abbott have it. : Eventually it was paid to Mr Mason for two advertisements which he had inserted. Mr Abbott: I believe Mr Wells lost £400 through his brother. Mr Renshaw: It was between £600 and £700. The meeting then dispersed. Mr Wells appears to have covered his retreat with an amount of ingenuity that deceived even his most intimate friends. In the morning he was at work in his garden. The expressman unsuspectingly conveyed his luggage, which was enclosed in two plain deal cases, to a certain boot factory, being instructed to leave them " until called for" by a friend who is in the habit of shipping similar cases to San Francisco and other places. At half-past twelve Mr Wells went down tho wharf followed by the boy with tho carpet-bag, the two cases having been shipped and i labelled meauwhile by the friend.—Auck-' land Star. We (Auckland Star) have seen a copy of the letter which Mr Wells wrote to Mr Allaway, of the Thames, craving time to meet a bill, and explaining bis affairs. Wells states that he purchased £150 worth of bills two years ago, on which he lost £10, and a further £150 worth were all bad. He expresses the deepest remorse for having borrowed money from his mother which he was unable to pay. Mr F. G. Ewington writes in explanation of tho use of his name. He says it oozed out that he was irretrievably involved, so much so, that at least one of his three lawyers advised bim to " make himself scarce as soon as possible," I said, " Tell your relatives the whole state of your affairs, and act on their advice between tho alternative of flight or Mount Eden." This was three or four days before he went away, and I never spoke to him afterwards or know positively that he was going till tho eleventh hour. If I had known oven a month before, I would not have acted as a public informer, and I do not regret one bit the course I took. The officers of his church- had demanded a reply to certain rumours; a legal firm in town had had a case against him for some days before he left, and I only know of his affairs what everybody seemod to know. He never told me a true account of what he owed, nor whom he owed money to.