DUKE’S BANKRUPTCY

Hokitika Guardian, 29 October 1928, Page 4

DUKE’S BANKRUPTCY

i.i [T MANY VICTIMISED

(United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.)

LONDON, Oct. 27. “It may be difficult to be economical when a Duke, hut at least one ought to 'behave like a gentleman,” declared the Registrar at the London Bankruptcy Cburt when suspending the bankruptcy discharge of the Duke of Manchester for three years. The story of the bankruptcy revealed in court was one of remarkable extravagance. The Duke of Manchester failed for the second time in 1916, his liabilities being £129,656, and his assets only £2OO. Subsequently one shilling in the pound was paid. The Duke admitted that at one period his household and personal expenditure was £72,000 which was £20,000 in excess of his income. His personal debts included £2,859 owing to jewellers, £lB3 to tailors, £270 to hosiers, £IOOO in hotel expenses, £916 in respect of a house at Gloucester Gate, £976 for tennis balls and racquets, and £1,220 for ladies’ dresses.

His counsel said that the Duke had , succeeded to his title at an early and was brought up without any occupation. Everyone assumed he was enormously rich. It would be difficult for him to cut down his expenditure;

The Registrar remarked that an unmitigating circumstance of . the case w r as that people had been victimised, and yet the Duke was in receipt of a large income. It was unjustifiable and reckless extravagance.