STRONG WORDS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 457, 6 May 1909, Page 3

STRONG WORDS.

A WOMAN AND HER CREDITORS. Auckland, May 5. A meeting of creditors to-day resulted in a lively scene and finally a resolution was carried instructing proceedings against the bankrupt for alleged perjury. The bankrupt was Mrs Annie Nicholson, storekeeper, of Whitianga, Mercury Bay, and at a previous meeting she admitted signing her husband’s name to an order, and stated that in fumigation of the store a large number of receipts were burned, and these receipts were the accounts that were now being claimed against her. In effect, she alleged that a number of the principal business firms of the city had become aware of her loss of the receipts, and were trying to make her pay over again. Two subsequent meetings were held, but she failed to attend, and the Official Assignee declared that she would attend the next meeting under arrest if necessary. Mrs Nicholson put in an appearance to-day.

Mr Selwyu Mays represented the Crown Solicitor, whose opinion in the case had been taken by the assignee at the creditors’ request. The opinion given by the Crown Solicitor was that the records disclosed reasonable grounds for the prosecution of Mrs Nicholson for alleged perjury. The Deputy Assignee (to Mrs Nicholson) : Do you still say that the evidence given by you before Mr Gerard on March 25 is correct? —Yes, absolutely true. Mr Mays : Do you know that four charges of perjury are held up against you? We want you to clearly understand your position. Mrs Nicholson, in great excitement, rose to her feet and exclaimed ; “You want me to go back on my oath, and I’m not going to stand it. You can go on with your perjury charges and anything else you like, you lot of scoundrels you!” Mr Mays : Take it calmly, madam. We only want to give you every chance.

These pacific assurances, however, only added fuel to the flames of the bankrupt’s wrath, and, stamping her foot, she screamed out: “He wants to suggest to me to withdraw my oath to protect these scoundrels (the creditors). You lot of robbers, you scoundrelly villians, you ! You know the receipts for your rascally accounts have been burned, and now you want to come on us, and I won’t stand it, for you or anyone else. I won’t stand it, do you hear, you robbers! . <£low dare you suggest to me to withdraw my oath! I know who I paid. I paid you all, and you know the receipts were paid ; that I had to post the money on the steamer because I was being robbed by the Auckland Post Office. I’ve been surrounded by robbers! You can put me in gaol. I don’t care . ))

The woman paused for breath. She was plainly becoming hysterical, when a clerk in the assignee’s office, tried to induce her to resume her seat.

“I won’t budge for any of you,” she fiercely told the creditors. “I see it all. You want me to withdraw my oath so as to save your faces when you know I paid all your accounts, every one of them, and now you’re trying to rob me again!” Mr Gerard ("Deputy Official Assignee): Sit down Mrs Nicholson.

Mrs Nicholson : “ I won’t sit down; you can send me to gaol for a “ lifer ” if you like, you and these scoundrels. I have Irish blood in my veins, and I won’t stand it.”

Mr Mays: Do you still say you paid these accounts ? Mrs Nicholson: Yes I paid them, and if I died this minute I paid them. If I Have to go to gaol I don’t care, I did pay them, and these people want to rob me. I’ll go to gaol for my life before I will withdraw my oath.

The Deputy Assignee (to the creditors): Is there any resolution in respect to this case ? There is no doubt it should be sifted to the bottom. There are charges made here against you, and the bankrupt has told you in very strong language what she thinks of you, and it would be only allowing reflections upon yourselves if you don’t see the matter settled.

Mr Mays: We brought her here to give her every chance to retract those statements in a calmer moment, but she doesn’t do so. Mr Ferguson (Burns and Co.) moved that in view of the very unsatisfactory character of the bankrupt’s evidence the Official Assignee be instructed to take criminal proceedings against her for alleged perjury. Mr Kendon (Abbot and Co.) seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously.