The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-04-11 00:00:00

SATURDAY, APR'

WORCESTERSHIRE QUARTER SESSIONS.

The Court resumed business on Wednesday morn-
ing. before Mr. G Hastings, M.P.
CHARGE AGAINST A DUDLEY BANKRUPT. W.
Charles Butler, on bail, was charged with having,
within four mouths of his bankruptcy, removed
certain of his effects of the value of upwards of £lO
and for having neglected to discover to the official
receiver all his property, with intent to defraud.
Mr. R. H. Amphlett and the Hon, A. Lytteltun
prosecuted ; Mr. Godson defended.—The case for
the prosecution was that defendant began business
in June, 1884, as a refreshment-house keeper at,
Dudley, being then in a hopelessly insolvent con-
dition. He was adjuged a bankrupt in December,
and his property under £3OO value, the official re-
ceiver became trustee. Defendant was called upon
to make out his statement cf affairs, and in doing
so he omitted from it a peat number of articles.
He was publicly examined three times, and it was
not until the last examination that he disclosed
certain articles he was now charged with conceal-
ing. On November 12, prior to the filing of the
petition, defendant removed fifteen packages of •
goods to the house of a man named Thacker. These
goods were subsequently recovered, and sold, at a
forced sale. for £7 9s 3d, though they had been
valued at £l2 15s. In addition to this, defendant '
concealed spoons which were sold for £l5 9s, a
quantity of wine-glasses, and four dozen bottles of
port and sherry, which prosecution had been unable
to trace.—Mr. E. P. Jobson, official receiver, pro•
duced the notes of the private examination, in which
defendant swore that he had discovered the whole
of his estate and effects. Defendant gave his lia-
bilities as £970 7s Bd, and his assets as £290. In
cross-examination witness admitted that the notes
of defendant's public examination had not been
read over to or signed by him.—Mr, Swain, cot-,
fectiouer, deposed to the removal of a quantity of
goods from deferdant's shop on the 18th November.
Defendant told him (witness) that he should not
be able to carry on, but that if he could secure some
of his things and commence business in a small
way, he should be likely to get on. The whole of
the property witness saw removed was such as
would be wanted in defendant's business.—For the
defence, Mr. Godson contended that when the pri-
soner removed the goods he had no idea of bank-
ruptcy. He also urged that no indictment cond
lie in the private examination of the debtor; ant
further, that at the time of the removal the pro-
perty did not belong to the creditors under the
Bankruptcy Act but to an execution creditor, r
failing him to the trustee under a deed of assign-
ment, and that, these were the proper persens to
prosecu e.—The jury found the prisoner guilty, and
he was sentenced to two months' imcrisoninent,
without hard labour. The jury strongly recom-
mended him to mercy on account of his previous
good character.
AcquirrEn.—William Trott (32), nailer, Broms-
grove, was acquitted on the charge of fraudulent),
converting lOs to his own use.
A TRADESMAN CHARGED WITH FALSE PliE rENCE,.
-John Smith (29), ironmonger, was indicted ft
obtaining by false pretences large quantities of nai
and other g ,ods, in December and January last, at
Halesowen. Mr. Godson and Mr. Marshall Toad
prosecuted; Mr. R. H. Ampnlett defended,—lt wes
stated for the prosecution that the prosecutors
lived near Halesowen, and were engageu in the nail
trade. At the end of last year tuey received through
post enquities for their price lists and descriptioes
of goods. The enquiries were made on bill heads
bearing prisoner's name. Prisoner represented that
he was a "plumber, bellhanger, wholesale furnish-
ing ironmonger, oil, p hint and colour merchant,'
carrying on business at 36, Clifton Road, loath,
Cardiff. In consequence of this goods were sent
and also invoices, but the prosecutors were unable
to get a shilling from the prisoner. After the gocets
arrived at Cardiff Station tne prisoner had them
hauled away by a man who was told to take off any
of the labels which might lead to the identificatioa
of the goods. Prisoner then sent the goods to the
nearest auctioneers, and sold them, under pressed
sa,'es, realising next to nothing. The value of the
goods was about £37. Prisoner had been in busi-
ness at the address given, but left there in March,
1883. When apprehended prisoner said he intended
to pay for the goods —He was found guilty, and
was sentenced to twelve months' hard labour.