HIDDEN ASSETS

Hokitika Guardian, 14 May 1932, Page 6

HIDDEN ASSETS

WOAIAN’S BANKRUPTCY.

STRANGE CASE BEFORE SYDNEY COURTS.

SYDNEY, Alay 5

Airs Aimee Belle Edols, a well-known Sydney society woman, is still the centre of one of tile most, -extraordinary bankruptcies in the history of Australia. She is at present confined in the debtors’ prison at Long Bay (Sydney) because .she refuses to give particulars of her assets in Victoria, set down originally at £45,000. For months Airs Edols evaded arrest, aud since her hiding place was discovered to use (the words of the 'Registrar of the Bankruptcy she has placed every obstacle in the way of those who are attempting to straighten out her affairs. On Saturday she received a definite and grave warning fro.n the Judge in Bankruptcy that if she persisted in her obstinacy she would be sentenced to a term of imprisonment with hard labour. At present she has certain privileges, but if a sentence were imposed she would be deprived of these and expected to assist with the cooking at the gaol and take her share of the work involved in keeping the cells clean.

PLEDGE OF SECRECY. Before she sequestered her esta;e, Airs Edols played a prominent part in the . social activities of Sydney, and was a very well-known figure a; most city functions. On Saturday she appeared to tlie£;Judge to release her it being said on fher .behalf that her health demanded that she should receive treatment outside the penitentiary. It was afso‘said that would be a breach of faith on. her part if she disclosed what she had done with certain sums of money that see had received, , including one amount of £920, She alleged that she had given her word of honour to two men that she would not disclose the whereabouts of ‘her Victorian a sets.

JUDGE’S STERN WAT' XG. The Judge ■‘aid Mac il those men existed they were not men of honour at all, and they must be a pair of undoubted swindlers. It was obvious nonsense' to say that the investment might be entirely lost if its nature was made public. “The idea of telling me that anything she says may cause the loss of the investment is ridiculous,” said -that Judge, “unless she is sutlering from the hypnotic influence of these men. She is not going to get out of the penitentiary until she makes a full disclosure and purges her contempt. After that she will be dealt with for her breaches of the Bui krupicy Ae r Don’t make any mi take about that.” • - ;

Mrs Edols was pale but composed as she listened to the Judge. Then she entered the witness box and persisted in her refusal to di close the name of the Melbourne men ■ with whom she had invested £45,000. “You must be a very weak-ni nded simpleton if you parted with the money without getting any documents in .regard to it,” commented the Judge, and Mi's Edols retorted : “I don’i: think T am,”

The Judge: Don't you think von ought to be subjected to an examination by a mental specialist? . Her reply was: No. I am right mentally. Mrs Edols will appear before the judge again on Airy 16tb.