A LIVELY SCENE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9535, 6 May 1909, Page 2

A LIVELY SCENE.

A 3TEMALE BANKRUPT UNDER " EXAM&AtIpN. AN AKTIOT IN VITUPERATION. ' [Pkb P&ess Association.] AUCKLAND, May 5, A, meeting of creditors to-day results, «d In a lively scerie, »^d finally » resolution, was tarried instructing criminal proceedings against the bankrupt for penury. The bankrupt was Mrs Annio Nicholsonr, storekeeper, of Whitiahga, Mercury Bay and at a previous meet^: ing she admitted signing her huafeand'flj name to an order, and stated ihat on the fumigation of the store a largo; number of receipts were burned, and! these receipts x \rore the accounts that were now claimed against her. A In effect she alleged that a number of the principal business firms of the city had become aware of her lose of the receipts, and .were trying to make her pay over again.. Two subsequent! meetings were held, but she failed to, attend, and the, Official Assignee declared that she would attend the next meeting under- arrest if 'necessary.. Mrs Nicholson put_ in au appearance to-day. Mr Sehvyn "Maya represented , the Grown Solicitor,, whose opinion . in the case had, been taken, by tie As-." fiignee at the creditore' request. The pinion given by ,the Crown Solicitor was- that the records diseased reason-; able grounds for the prosecution of Mrs. Nichopon for perjury;.* The Deputy Assignee : Do you still say ihat tHo evidence given by you before Mr Gerard on , March 25 is correct? ' ■' ;'".'• '-■,■ ■'_ ■ •'■■.'■'. V; Bankrupt: Yes; absolutely true. Mr Mays: Do you know that four charges or perjury"' are held up against you 'P. We want you to clearly under* stand/ your position. . ' , ,' ! Mrs Nicholson', in great excitement, rose to her *feet, and exclaimed, ":You:, want mo to go back on my oath, and' I'm not going to stand it. You ©an go* ' on with the, perjury charges and any, thing els© yon like you-— — lot of - scoundrels, yon— X-" . ... I Mr Maye: Take it' calmly madam-; we'pnly warit ta give you every chance. These pacific ..assurances, however, only added fuel to the flames of the bankrupt's wrath, and' stamping her foot she screamed out, "He wants t<i euggest to me to withdraw my oath, to protect these scoundrels,, the credi- \ tors.-. You.— — - lot of .. robbers, you' scoundrelly villains.' You inovr the 7 receipts' for your TaacaUy accounts have been ; burned, and now you want to come on .ns», and I won't stand it from you or anyone else. I won't stand it. \ Do you hear, you robbers? How dare you suggest to me to withdraw 'my oath? I know who I paid. ' I paid you all, and you knowtha receipts were paid, that I had to post the money on the^ steamers because I was being robbed by the Auckland* Post Office. I've been surrounded by robbers. You can put me in gaol. I don't care." ' . . . . , -'} ' : The woman paused for breath. She was plainly- becoming hysterical when a clerk in the Assignee's Qffioe tried to induce her to resume her seat. V "I won't budge for any of 'you," she fiercely told the creditors.. "I see it" all. You want me" to withdraw my oath so as to save your faces when you know I paid all your accounts,' every one of them, and now youtre trjnuig to rob me again.?' ; v : Mr Gerard (Deputy Official Assignee)! Sit down. Mrs Nicholson. ' c . ; • Mi-s Nicholson: I won't sit down. You can send nic to gaol for a " lifer " if you like, you and these scoundrels. I have Irish blood in my veins, and I 'won't stand it. " Mr Mays: Do you still say you .paid these accounts? ■ v Mrs Nicholson : Yes,. I paid theih, and if I died this minute I paid them. If I have to go to gaol I don't care. I did • pay tliem, and .other people want; to rob me. . I'll go to gaol for my life before I will withdraw my' oath. » The Deputy Assignee (to the creditors): Is there any resolution in v respect ,to this case? There is no doubt it ! should be sifted to the bottom. There I are charges made here against you, < and the bankrupt has told youin very strong language what she thinks of you, and it would be only allowing reflections upon yourselves if you don't see the matter settled, ' \ ' Mr Mays.* "We brought her here. N to give her every chance, to retract thesa statements in a calmer '^ moment, but she doesn't do 50. . . . Mr , Furguson (of • Burns an 4 Gq.) moved that, in view of the unsatisfac*" , tory- character of the bankrupt's evidence, the Official Assignee should be in* struoted to take criminal ' proceeding^ against her for perjury. Mr Kendon (Abbot and Co.) second* ed^the motion, which was carried udm^ iniously.