OBSTINATE BANKRUPT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16919, 19 December 1922, Page 5

OBSTINATE BANKRUPT.

REFUSES TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. (Ter Tress Association - .) AUCKLAND, December 18. ' n unusual stand was taken by j bankrupt who appeared before the Offi ciai Assignee (Mr Fisher). The bankru P t > Gertrude Eva Gahagan, of Devonpoi t. had expressed her deter mi nation not to pay the debt owing t‘* the petitioning creditor, and when placed on oath by the Official Assignee refused to give direct answers and to state AA'hat she had done Avith a sum of £olX>. which it was alleged site had drawn trom the Dost Office Savings Bank. Airs Gahagan was adjudicate*. l bankrupt on December 1, the petition being in regard to a debt, of £‘s7 12s. arising trom a judgment obtained against her last February, when she wa> nonsuited. At the commencement* of the meet ing the Assignee said the bankrupt had filed a schedule in which she showed her assets as nil and her liabilities as nil. so that he r claim was that she owed nothing and had no assets. He had warned her specifically that if she lelused to answer proper questions uiMjn oath she renderod herself liable to imprisonment lor contempt it ( ourt. but she had assured him that she “ did not care tw o straws whether • went to prison or hot.’ He ban then obtained a statement from her. Questioned by M r Blamford. tor tlia petitioning creditor, bankrupt refused to say whether she had recently withdrawn money from the Post Office. Proved for an answer, she said she may have drawn money. She would not say she had not. She said she had to live. Mr Blamford: You say. then, that recently you drew out certain moneys.

Bankrupt: I am not going to say anything about it. Mr Blamford: Is the petitioning creditor the only creditor you haA*e at the present time? You have withdrawn certain moneys to pay certain creditors recentlv We have that. Will you say that you don’t deny it? Bankrupt : I say nothing. Mr Blamford: Could you go and find that £500? Do you know who halt ? Bankrupt : T am not going to say. Mr Blamford : Did you draw th • money to pay your creditors, or for living expenses? Bankrupt: Are they not. the same? Mr Blamford: But £SOO for living expenses! Bankrupt: Well, that is nothing. The Official Assignee said the point was that at this critical stage in the proceedings the bankrupt was refusing to answer questions, so that they Avere not likely to get any further re garbling the £SOO. and it was for the creditors to decide whether they would compel her hy Court proceedings. The bankrupt said she Avished to have the matter cleared up right away, as she could not stand the strain of repeated appearances before the Court. Mr Fisher; Well, pay the £57 12s r.nd you can clear it up. The bankrupt: 1 will never pay it I am an honourable woman, and I was disgraced in my own home. Mr Fisher (despairingly): Oh well, the next proceedings will he a criminal prosecution. The meeting then adjourned.