Libel and Bankruptcy

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume VII, Issue 2053, 26 September 1907, Page 2

Libel and Bankruptcy

An Undefended Action.and Its Sequel •

A meeting of. creditors in tho estate of St. George Ablett Dowsing, clerk, of Wellington, was held on Thnrsito;,''. Tho statement filed by bankrupt shoW liabilities (all unsecured), amountiug'to • £72 75,6 d. There wero no assets. The creditors were: M. Demuth £67 15s, Te Aro House Company £1.165, Georgo and Georgo £l9s, and Dr. Kawson £l7s 6d. Bankrupt, in ut sworn personal statement, said it was'obvious that the causo ol his bankruptcy was tho judgmoilt • which Demuth had receutly obtaiued against him in an action brought before tho Supremo Court for a'logedlibcl," I did not defend that action, said bank'- - nipt, " although I had amplo dofonce, The exceptionally painful circumstances; surrounding my defence, made it, to my.'.mind—the mind of an Englishman-**!*. possible for, me to placo it .before tftVCourt. However, while I do not desire ''■ to'enter into further details here, I shall tako my fir.it opportunity .to givq tho fullest informationito you and my - cdeditors, and afterwards to the judge . when I ask for my discharge. 'lJbavo.iio: means to pay this judgment, f'livo on my salary, which is wholly absorbed by tho needs of mv family. I have no property, and therefore nothing to safisfy the judgment. The few small amounts included in my liabilities I should havik nettled in tho ordinary way I have- donb'. hitherto, but when threatened by Messrs Skerrott and Wylie, solicitors for Demutli, that they were instructed to put a bailiff into my houso if their doniand . was not immediately satisfied, I had no.": alternative but to take tho course I have taken." / ■" Bankrupt, examined on oath, said he. was employed in the Land and Income-'•■'" Tax Department at lis a day, and noovertime. Ho had no offer to makb., ■'_ To Mr, Blair: The filing fee had becn.iw lent him by a professional gentleman. %.. ; He had seven c)ii'!di'en,' thrco wore dp- -J. pendent upon him, their ages ranging, ;- from 17 to 20 yearis, His wifp had ljri? '-\ vate property, and earned ■'something'■'.■■•.■ as a teachor of inusio. His wifedifl lipt '■; contribute to tho householdexpenses,;;;;;; They were living in her property, and; his wife was paying off tho mortgage/ ■■''}■]■ : '- The meeting was adjourned; • :; ; v The case roforrod to above was beforo : '-j tho Supremo Court at 'Wellington'reconlly, Michael Bee Domuth, the prin-;k> cipal creditor in tho estate,' prpecodcjt|ri! .igaiii&t Dmysing, olaiminimOj] for «SS loged libel and slaridor. Tho;libel. wM'M aisled of a otatemeiit mado'on her 12th 1906. whproiri Dowsingj.spoakT ;'M ing to Demutli's employer, made, graved allegations against the■ ■latterj nianded. that Demuth should .be dismissal! cd from his employment.' Judgment; given 'for plaintiff for £soiuulxosts,}?;: -soi