CHINESE BANKRUPT

Hokitika Guardian, 23 July 1929, Page 5

CHINESE BANKRUPT

UP FOR FALSE PRETENCES. By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) DUNEDIN, July 23. In the Police Court. Kum Yoon Lee, who apepared as bankrupt before the Official Assignee in April, pleaded not guilty to 14 charges of obtaining money and goods by .fraud, or that being bankrupt he contracted debts without prospect of payment. Evidence was given by Douglas William -ucKay, a member of a merchant firm, that accused stated he was opening shops and required goods. Accused told him that his father was a retired merchant living «t Auckland where accused had lost £2,000 through giving credit. He said among other things that his father owned a’ motor which cost £I3OO and that while in

China his father was captured by brigands, accused having to go to the mountains to rescue him, , paying two thousand pounds or dollars.

Witness and other witnesses stated that credit was given because of the accused’s fairy tales. One witness «nid accused’s father, formerly in business in Dunedin, was a most honourable man. The father in evidence stated he was i market gardener at Invercargill and his family had large business operations in; Auckland, Dunedin, and Invercargill. He had been Chinese missioner at Dunedin Ifor some years. .His mn was previously in the silk business with him, when a large sum of money •'ad been lost. Witness had been captured by brigands but had not been ransomed. He had never owned a car worth £1350 hut had a Standard car at Tnvercargill. Witness had promise/) his son that if he behaved lie would give him the gardens, on which ho was now working. 1 The case was adjourned to an un'•pecified date.