The Portland daily press., 1897-02-16
CREDITORS DISSATISFIED
With the Settlement of an Insolvency
Case in Somerset County.

Watervillo, February 15.-The case now
pending before the insolvency oouru of
Somerset county on petition of the credi-
tors of F. 9. Cairns Of Snowhegan prom
ises some new developments under the
insolvent laws of this state.
d. h. Bartlett and Frank S. Cairns,
doing business in Skowhegan under the
firm name of Bartlett & Cairns, made
common law assignment to &c. N. Mer-
rill on January 6, 1896. On January sth
meeting of tie creditors was held in
Portland for the purpose of EXPANDING
the time. At this time the partisanship
was dissolved and the assets turned over
to MI. Bartlett for settlement. On jan
| uary goth, Frnnk s. Cairns began to do
grocery business in the place formerly
occupied by the firm, where he contin-
ued until November 10th, when he sold
out his entire business to George H.
Pishon of Skow hogan, for S1469 cash and
at the time of payment requested Mr..
Pishon to pay him cash rather than by
checks. At the time of the sale there
were accounts on his books amounted
to from $3.50 to $500.
These Mr.. Cairns began to collect, get
ting cash where he could and where he
| uouli not taking notes. Before Novem-
| Der 80, 1896, he had in this way settled
all of his accounts, excepting shout $500,
but it is claimed he had not paid any of
his merchandise creditors December 2
there was a conference of the creditors
aid Mr.. Cairns was asked to make q
| statement Of b is assets and Liabilities.
| BY petition of his creditors he was petit
toned intoa insolvency and Edwin j..
Merrill appointed assigned. January
2S, 1897, all examination was hold before
the Judge Of the court Of insolvency and
conducted by e. N. Merrill at which
time Mr.. Cairn disclosed, the methods
Of disposing of his assets, which on
December I'd amounted to S2360, with
liabilities at the came time of about
$1,000.
Three hundred and three dollars paid
to A. G. Blunt on note; 500. Forest
Goodwin on accommodation note: $500
balance of accounts about town; $50,
Mrs. +. 8. CAIRNS borrowed money $43,
COW; IS. OF sheep; sls6, Tar oxen 5000,
stepmether In Cuba; s225, stepmother in
Cuba; 5000, own mother: 500, Il. N.
Merrill as assets: $500, E. N. Merrill as
asse is.
On November 80 he paid to Forest e.
Goodwin, Esq.,, 1926 to secure from him
for further services This was ordered
paid over to the assignees, on motion
Of MIR. Merrill. The above statemant ac
counts for nearly all the money that
Mr.. Cairns had when he sold ont his
business, but more of 1t is in such place
that the creditors will find it available
in case the Judge grants discharge.
Some criticism is passed because Mr..
Cairns purchased cattle and sheep,
which are by law exempted property, but
this he had perfe right to do under
the existing laws.
AS to the disposition of some of the
money, though the.creditors failed TO re-
| csive it, MIR. Cairns obeyed call that
appealed to his humanity and his lsel-
ings as a relative. His people III Cuba
were in dire distress as result OF the
war that is rayaging that island, and
| learning by cable and letter their dan
ger and their troubles, Mr. Cairns for
warded to them means to relieve their
| necessities.
The settlement of this estate has
| called attention pretty sharply to GER
tain points in the insolvency laws, but
Mr.. Cairns's friends very pe1Iinen6iy
observed that he has not broken any sta
tute and that he has unfortunately peen
obliged to suffer lately from adverse cir
aumstances that have put 1T out OF mis-
power to settle all liabilities,