"EXTRAORDINARY INDICTMENT"

NZ Truth, Issue 1147, 24 November 1927, Page 8

"EXTRAORDINARY INDICTMENT"

Amelia Hewson's Allegations In Bankruptcy Court

MANAGER

BLAMED FOR FINANCIAL RUIN

(From "N.Z. Truth's" H

"There are two sides to ever is heard there is not very much to however, I must say that it is a vei

THESE were the words of Official Assignee Chisholm at a meeting of creditors concerning the bankruptcy of Miss Amelia Grace Hewson at Hastings last week. The deficiency m her estate amounted to something like £1200. If 'her story ls true, she has been financially ruined and totally misled by a man m whom she placed her trust. This Is her story: "I am a spinster residing at Hastings. In 1907 I was well off and decided to take a trip to England. "Before doing so, I appointed Mr. H. E. Beamish, of Hastings, to manage my affairs. "I returned from England In December, 1908, arid was persuaded to appoint Mr. Beamish as my attorney and look after my business affairs, although I was back m New Zealand at the time. "Mr. Beamish, from time to time, bought and sold properties m my name. The whole of the transactions were carried out by him and I relied entirely On his advice and statements and acted on the information he gave me. "He dealt entirely y/ith my affairs as if they were his own, rarely consulting me about what was being done and handling all the moneys m connection with the transactions. "He would from time to time place amounts to my credit, but never clearly explained to me how I stood. I always understood from what Mr. Beamish told me that my affairs were prospering. "He has often told me that he was doubling my capital. During the last five years Mr. Beamish has induced me to sign certain promissory notes. "Having no business experience myself, I did not understand the nature of these documents. "Mr. Beamish explained to me that

stings Representative.)

i question and until the other side be said. Reading this one side, y extraordinary indictment'

I was not endangering my position m any way by signing these and that he would meet them when they became due and that they were for his benefit. "I do not know what has become of the proceeds of these promissory notes nor of certain mortgages which were raised' on my property. I did not know until June last that I was insolvent. "All my present liabilities are on the promissory notes above mentioned and all mortgages negotiated by Mr. Beamish — and also for working expenses m connection with the property at Tukl Tuki, which Mr. Beamish acquired m my name. "I had nothing to do with this property myself. It was managed . entirely by Mr. Beamish and I have had no money out of it. "I have personally never incurred any debts at all for my own living expenses and clothing and personal expenses which have not been paid. "My present position is entirely due to the way m which Mr. Beamish has handled my affairs. Had I known my true position, I would never have signed the promissory notes nor permitted myself to incur the liabilities which are now owing. "I attribute my position to the fact that I trusted Mr. Beamish and he entirely misled me as to the nature of the transactions and as to my true financial position. I have lost about £9000." Henry Evanson Beamish was not present at the meeting of creditors, at which it was mentioned that his affairs were m the course of liquidation. The last has not been heard of the affair, for although at the meeting sympathy was expressed for Miss Hewson, a resolution was passed calling on the official assignee to procure from Beamish a statement showing how Miss Hewson's money was expended and to explain how he came to place her m her present position.