The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-09-26 00:00:00

t:ocal anti gistrict Setus.

COUNTY COURT.

His Honour Mr. Rupert Kettle held a sitting
at the County Court, on Thrusday, but with
the exception of the following bankruptcy Ctiid,
the business was of no public interes
Int lle Krnest Melantltlenn Sottt.—The bank-
rupt, a mineral merchant, residing at Wordsley,
eatiic bofore'the Court for his Ilual examination.
Mr. Gould, s dicitor, appeared for the trustee;
Mr. Woodward from the office of Messrs. Rogers
and Jordan) held a creditor's proxy, and handed
to his Honour a series of questions, requesting
that they might be put to the bankrupt.
His Honour said he did not know that he
could examine the bankrupt.
Mr Woodward said that then he must request
the solicitor for the trustee to put the ques-
tions.

Replying to Mr. Gould, the bankrupt then
stated that he had disclosed to the trustee all
his effects. He could not tell the amount he
paid for his furniture when he commenced house.
keeping some ciahteen months since.
Q. Is all the furniture you hut when you
commenced house there now?

A. No; the useless part of it was sold at a
sale at the White House, opposite my house at
Wordsley. Except what was sold then the fur-
niture was all there now. There was no part of
it in pawn that he knew of. He had not
pawned any.
Mr. Gould : Did you state at the creditors'
meeting that there was a large amount of plate
belonging to you. Bankrupt : I stated that I
had brought plate—that means silver and plated
articles—and of course I did not understand at
the time that they would sell at such a ruinous
value. Every atom of the plate is in existence
and every atom will be given up. I swear I
don't kuow where it is. It is not in my pows.
slim or in my power, and I don't know where it
is.

The Judge: You must explain what has be.
come of it. Where is the plate ?
The Bankrupt: I don't know, sir.
The J udgo : Then I shall adjourn until you
and it out.

The Bankrupt: If I cau do so, I will find it
out.

The Judge: You must give some explanation
of it.

Mr. Gould: Can you find out if the execution
is adjourned.
The Bankrupt: I can.
The Judge: You can tell us now.
The Bankrupt: I don't know sir.
The Judge: I have not asked the questions,
and therefore 1 euuuot tell whether you know or
not.

Mr. Gould: Can you tell how it came out of
your possession?
The Bankrupt: I cannot.
The Jude: That is the question—bow came
it out of your possession ?
The Bankrupt : I cannot say. I have be en in
the country a good deal.
Mr. CiJuld: IL, has been through thecountry
gsad deal, I know.
Tao Bankrupt: You know in your private
tp.teirl that: I am a gratt ,rive ier.
Mr. Gould: I know. Can you tell if any is
disposed of? Have you disposed of any ? The
Bankrupt: I don't know.
The Judge: Who does know?

Mr. Hou1:1: Has auy one who has had it in
ruitiidy disposed of h by your orders? The
Bankrupt: No.
'rho Judge: Who has had custody of it? The
13ankruut : I don't know any one that has, sir.

_
Mr. G. ould : You mad a statement some
time ago as to a large atuouut of jewellery be-
longing to your wife. I believe that is in exis-
tence. The Bankrupt: You said plate and
jewellery.
Mr. Gould: The first question was confined
tt) Distil?

- -
The Baukropt I thought it was conaued to
jewellery. Wind my wife has she will give up.
The Judge: That bi a different matter A
man may not, know where jewellery is. and he
way know where plate is.
The Bankrupt: I don't know where the
jewellery is. -

Quedioned as to some harness, the bankrupt
said he did not know where it w is. The har-
ness had beeu oil a hor,m lard hem Mr. Dutton,
of the Beh Hotel, in Stourbridgc. A man whose
name was Christopher Phillips was the driver.
I did not remove that harness from the horse,
as it was to go to one or two certain destinations
—one of which was the Talbot, and one the Boll;
and if he did not take it to one of those hotels,
he took it for himself. He told toe he took it
to one of those places. I think "Math," the
ostler at the Talbot, knows his address. I have
not seen the harness since it was taken there.
A saddle and bridle were given to the receiver.
I have some books locked in my safe. Du not
know what book debts are owing. Wuen I
made my statements I thought there were a lot
of debts owing, but I find there are not. Could
not explain, in the abagnce of my books, which
are looked up by Mr. Everson, and you shall
have them for examination. Sold a gig for
Acta ii cia i p vine it; received £4O, and I had
paid £4l for it. I hold a receipt, and was paid
in bank notes. Whan I made a statement at
the meeting of creditors that! could pay 15s in
the poaud, I thought my furniture would realise
£l,OOO. I suppose the discrepancy is accounted
for by my waxing an over-estimate. I thought
the estate would realise that amount. I account for
inyiloss by losing my best customers, through being
furnished with bad articles for sale. Had saleable
goods on band now. There were egcessive charges
ou some part, bat on the whole moderate. Gave Mr.
Evers assets which the creditors knew nothtng of.
Those were at Newport, in Monmouthshire, and
were worth about .£5O. That was subject to a charge
of .£1 lds. 61., which I do not think has accumulated.
There would be ld. a ton a week wharfage. The
bankrupt WA4 subjected farther examination as to his
life insurances and other dealings, and he said that
to save him disgrace, and believing he would be able
to go on again, his father had given a polies for ..£l,OOO
to the bank, and the .£.500, he believed, his father
hat retained for himself, or he knew where it was.
His Honour said that it would not be necessary
for the bankrupt to be further publicly examined, if
he made a fall disclosure to the receiver.

The Bankrupt : If y.)ur Honour grants an adjourn-
ment I will do all I CAU. I began with nothing, and
woe:, d hard, and have done well; and I have lost a
great deal. If you grant an adjournment, I think
you will be satisfied with the result.
The ezaunuation was then adjourned.