The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-06-05 00:00:00

"A DUMMY TRUSTEE."

Before Registrar Beilringer, at the Liverpool Bank-
ruptcy Court, on Mowlay, some extraordinary admis-
sions were made by Richard Joseph Nodder. The
debtor carried on business as an accountant and estate
agent. lle said in his examination by the Official
Receiver that part of his business had been to wind-
up the estates of bankrupts.
Official Receiver: Whom did you act for ?—I was
a "dummy trustee" for some solicitors.
What do you call a "dummy trustee ?"—Doing
whatever I was told.
As "dummy trustee," what were you told to do in
these particular estates ?—You must not tax my
memory for that.
In pebruary, 1884, you were trustee for at least
six estates in bankruptcy ?—I don't know; it may be

so.
Did you ever pay a dividend in those estates ?—No;
I don't suppose there was anything in them.
Where did the assets go ?—I cannot tax my
memory.
There were some assets in them ?—Oh, yes.
What became of those assets ?—The great bulk of
them would be claimed by the solicitors. You are
asking an infirm mind for a stretch of memory which
is more than I can do.
it is all very well to put this on the solicitors.
Now, did you not get the bulk of these assets ?—I
cannot tell you. I know I did not receive all the
assets.
The Registrar: As he was appointed trustee under
the Court, and therefore because an officer of the
Court, he will have to render an account of them.
Official Receiver: Did you not keep a cashbook for
each estate ?---No.
Why ?—I don't know.
If my information is correct the solicitors did not get
much of these assets. You got the bulk of them?—
You are wrongly informed.
The Registrar: Have you ever rendered an account
of your transactions in relation to these estates
(handing debtor a list) ?—I do not recognise these

names.
Well, you know, if you are a "dummy trustee" I
suppose your name would have to be used. Your
duty was to protect the creditors.
Mr. Collins: Do you recognise any of them ?—Some
of them.
The Registrar: Do you realise the force of what
you are saying? You are casting an aspersion upon
the solicitors that they have appropriated the assets
improperly. You have never rendered an account of
your transactions. It is a monstrous state of things.
Official Receiver: I may now say I am investigating
these cases. Is there anything left of these assets?
—No.
Have you any money in hand from any assets ?
No. You know my ppsition.
No, I do not with regard to these assets; I want to
find out.
The Registrar: You were trutsee in a matter where
the assets were put down, stock-in-trade £64, and also
in other matters where the assets were stated to be
£76, £lOB, £l9O, and OEIOO. Th 6 last case occurred
in 1882. The stock-in-trade is stated to be £lOO, and
the liabilities £llOO. In none of these cases have you
kept an estate book, you have never paid a single •
dividend, and you have never accounted to anybody
for these assets. This is is a state of things which
cannot be permitted. A bankrupt trustee cannot
escape the liabilities attaching to the position which
you have unt3.ertaken. I shall expect an account in
each of these matters, stating what money you have
received and how it has been disposed of. Your duty
was to realise the estates, and account to the creditors
for what you had done with the money.—They are
many years ago.
One of them was in 1882.—That is four years ago.
Who is to blame that these estates should be kept
open?
The Registrar then said that the debtor must file a
list of all matters in which he had been appointed
trustee in liquidation, compositions, or arrangements,
and the debtor replied that he would comply ritla the
order as far as he was able.