The Late H. S. Whalley.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, 9 January 1892, Page 2

The Late H. S. Whalley.

North-east Lancashire is considerably exoited just now on the subject of certain revelations which have been made public since the demise of Mr H. S. Whalley, a solicitor, who carried on business in Blackburn and Southport, employing no fewer than fourteen clerks in his two establishments. His death took place on October 15th, after a three days' illness. No sooner had the grave closed over the remains than j it was discovered that his business had been conducted in a most . extraordinary manner, and that a large number of persons who had lent money to him on what they believed to be good securities were only in possession of bogus documents. A meeting of persons holding these worthless deeds and other securities was called, and Mr Brewer, who was one of them, acting on behalf of the whole body of the creditors,, threw the estate into Chancery. * The offices at Blackburn and Southport have this week been closed, and' Mr Mather, solicitor, of Liverpool, and Mr Waterworth, accountant, of Blackburn, are now administering the estate, under the direction of the court.

Some Habd Casss. Among the cases which have been verified is one in which a retired publican of Blackburn, Mr James O'Rell, had advanced two sums to the deceased, one of £450 and the other £800, ostensibly as mortgages on real property. For the £450 he received bogus deeds, two other mortgages having been effected on the same property, and for the £800 A his only security is an I0 U, entirely I valueless. It adds a touch of grim humour to these transactions when it is mentioned that; on Mr O'Rell handing over to the deceased his last £300, the latter presented him, with £1 and a barrel of beer as •• earnest money." Mr O'Rell is 72 years of age, and his wife 70, and they find the money which they had saved to keep them in comfort taken from them in the most heartless fashion. Mr Whalley did a big business with the builders, and one of these now finds that he has claims made upon him,, in one instance for £700, for money advanced on mortgage, thoug^w he declares the sum was paid morft \ than six yeara ago. Another buUcWJ* - is being pressed for payment. qs^ £6,000. One claimant finds that money which he had left to Mr Whalley to invest in household property has been placed in land which in the present condition of the real estate business is practically valueless. Cases are numerous in which spinisters and widows, -who' had invested their all with Mr Whalley,

flrf themselves face to face with rua|. During Mr Whalley's lifetime spme irregularities were discovered it connection with his business,

Rut he adroitly managed to quiet wtw clients v by some plausible explanation, It is stated that £100,000 is involved in the complications which he has left behind him, and which the accountants and lawyers will unravel. Widespread misery and ruin will be the result of his faithless trusteeship, as new cases in which he has been alleged to have abused the confidence of his clients crop up daily. The deceased was known as a kindly, courteous, religious, and benevolent person. His charities were numerous. He was a great reader of

Religious Literature, which was rather ostentatiously on exhibition in his office. He had a room in his Blackburn o'fice which he used periodically as an oratory and into which he daily retired for private prayer. In a memorandum which has come to light since his death, on the top of the pages are found-a number of crosses at intervals, with the words in his handwriting, " Pray fervently." One of his clients being' shown the little oratory, was told " that he had passed many happy hours in that little room in silent communion with his Maker."