LAWYER DISAPPEARS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2009, 17 March 1914, Page 5

LAWYER DISAPPEARS.

HIS CLIENTS' MONEY; ORDER TO MAKE HIM BANKRUPT. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Dunedln, March 16. One of many incidents in the recent career of John Crisp, late of Palmerston, solicitor, was narrated to Mr. Justice Sim this morning, the case being an application to have Crisp adjudicated a bankrupt. Mr. H. D. Bedford appeared for the petitioner, Agnes Jane Lunan, of Palmerston, widow. Ho said that; on August 24, Mrs. Lunan gave Crisp £400 for investment, and received/from him a receipt indicating that tho money was to be invested on a mortgage on property belonging to a man named Diack. About six'months afterwards Mrs. Lunan applied' to Grisp for the deeds of mortgage, and ho told her that they wero in tho Deeds Office, at.Duiiedm, and that she would receive them in ,duo time. Search being subsequently made it was found that no such deed of mortgage ,was. ever prepared, and Mrs. Lunan had no security a.t. all. She had made an 'application to Crisp for payment through her solicitor, but had received nothing. In the meantime Crisp left his usual place of business, and his abode at Palmerston,. and no trace of him could bo found. He left about February 25, .and sinco'then, had not been seen about Palmerston. Mrs. Lunan asked that Crisp be adjudicated bankrupt. He-had committed an, act' of bankruptcy under Section 26, Sub-sec-tion (d) of tho Act which declares it to be an act of bankruptcy if any person "with intent to defeat or delay his creditors, departs, or attempts to depart, or is about to depart out of New Zealand, remains away, or departs from his dwellinghouse, or otherwise absents himself, or keeps to his' house." Mr. Bedford added: I take it Your Honour that you will require oral evidence, and' will not dispense with it. The affidavit's are very full, but, if you require oral evidence, I am prepared to call it. His Honour: What is the rule about giving ■ notice that ho intends to dispute?. ■ •''; Mr. Bedford: Rule 105. There is no notice under that rule.. His Honour: The affidavits call it a writ, of summons, but it .is'not a writ of summons. However, thodebtor has not served notice under Rule 105. It is clear that what was served was a copy of the summons issued in bankruptcy. I think it is .sufficient that, the debtor has not served notice under Rule 105: I take it that the allegations are proved by the affidavits and,an order of abjudication will be made. .