The Express.
London, England, 1851-03-27 00:00:00

which he had carried on with so much energy I
f ten years and a h ill that he had incurred debts hi the
amount of 23,0001. 'thoudh he had had • great deal of
stock in trade, and hid cm:l:eyed a number; of men, when
the messenger of this court went dowu all he could get pos-
,ssion of was a key. (Laughter.) His books had been
sery imperfectly kept; he had kept no ledger or cash-book;
there were no invoices or receipts, and soma of his books,
he alleged, had been loot in the office of the late official
mistime, Mr. Turquand. All he had given up was 1,6001.,
awarded to him by the South-Eastern Railway Company,
sod even this sum had passed into the hands of some of the
awrIrCSIOUT observed that there wee a great peculiarity
in this came—neither the petitioning creditor nor the trade
assignee had proved env debt against the estate.
Mr. Spicer said as there was no property the assignees
had had to pay the expenses out of their own pockets.
The bankrupt, in eaamivation, stated that he was by
trade • tailor, and afterwards took land and built houses.
Ile began seven or eight years ago. lie had no capital, for
the plan down there was for a person to take some
land and get an advance of money, though he might be
known to have no capital. Ile had kept no ledger or cash-
book. If Mr. Alderman Harmer or any other mortgagee
gave hint • cheque for 501. to pay his workmen
he would come over and examine the wages book.
Mr. Harmer would also accept bills fur him when he had to
make payments of 3001. or 4001. to tradesmen. Mr. Alder-
man Harmer was • mortgage creditor for 14,0001., but had
not proved. There was no doubt but Mr. Harmer ought
to have paid all he owed. He had sold the Shrubbery tea-
gardens for 7001. to Mr. Jones, ono of the mortgagees.
His law expenses, 1,4.101., had been caused by the various
of property. The solicitors employed were very
numerous. (Laughter) ltiveas. Harmer and Peacock
were trustees of • certain property, of which Mr. Harmer
would take a slice off, and let him have it for building on.
Mr. Harmer took his cart and all the loose materials on the
place, and then employed his (bankrupt's) brother to finish
the property, giving him 2001. or 3001. The cart was sold
last summer by Mr. Harmers steward for 30s. Bankrupt
had not a nail. The 1,600/. received from the South
Eastern Railway Company belonged rightly to the estate,
hut the assignees hail never sought it ; they had been try-
ing to put it in Mr. Ilarmer's pocket, who claimed it as
mom; met. lie made • motion List August before Mr.
lh sight Bruce, to which the assignees consented. The soo-
tier' was again in the paper fur that day.
Mr. Linklater said there had been an award of 1,6001. made
in favour of the bankrupt before the bankruptcy; after-
wards Mr. Aldermau Harmer set up a claim to it, though
he hod never appeared before the arbitrator. Bills were
then tiled to bring the matter into chancery; and the result
woo, the assignees had consented to an order, to bcoefit Mr.
Harmer, behind the back of the official assignee. The
luinkrupt, feeling the injustice of this, had appealed against
the order; and the appeal was in the paper for that day.