ROBBED OF £7OOO

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 193, 12 June 1939, Page 3

ROBBED OF £7OOO

BANKRUPT’S STORY “MET CONFIDENCE MEN” SYDNEY, April 6.—A man being ■examined before tlie Registrar in "Bankruptcy yesterday, said that he had been robbed of £7ooo' by confidence men, during a visit to the United States. He was Edward Johns, aged 70, of Tinana street, Habcrfield, a fruit mer•chanl, fcirmerJy managing director of the Australian Emit and Produce Company, Limited, During the examination, Johns said lie returned to Australia from England in 1920, by way of the United Elates. While in New York lie met an Australian, whom lie later discovered to bo a< confidence mail. This man, who knew Australia “from top to bottom,”' introduced him to two other men who said they had contracts in connection with land in Florida. Land in Florida. Before travelling on the .train from New York to Detroit, lie handed over • £7OOO, which had been cabled to him by request-, and was to have met the three men later at a certain place. They failed to appear, and he never saw them again. Cross-examined by the registrar, Mr. Keaney, and the acting official receiver, .Mr. Keenan, Johns said lie had never seen the land, and bis only assurance that- the land did exist was the assurance given him by the three men, whom lie had known for only three weeks. He had not seen any title deeds of the land. Mr. Keenan: You’re a hard-headed business man, and you were going to buy land you had never seen, in a foreign country. The bankrupt, I know what a fool Em/ been. I’ve been through hell ever since. Johns said he could not see what th-- .matter had to do with liis bankruptcy. Unless the court thought he had put the money away, the questions were unnecessary. Mr. j Keenan: We are not suggesting anything, but- we think some explanation is necessary. “Story Easy to Invent” Thoi registrar: A story like this one is easy to invent, but the trick lias worked before. The bankrupt: That’s all 1 can tell you. „ Johns stated, in answer to questions bv the official receiver, that he did not complain to the United .States police or seek any legal advice. He explained that £4OOO of the money was cabled tr> him by M. and w. Mack, fruit merchants, of London. £ISOO by a man named W. Sinclair, of Sydney, and £ISOO by the Australian Fruit and Produce Company. Limited. *M. and 3\ • Mack were repaid £2500, and given 1500 or bankrupt’s shares in the company. as security. -■Sinclair vas paid in full. in 1937, the Australian Emit- and Produce Company Pty., Limited, sued him for recovery ot the £ISOO, and secured a verdict for £1344 18s del. After this judgment bankrupt’s license as a farm produce agent was cancelled, and he could no longer operate. The firm, with other executives. secured' a/ license, and was the petitioning creditor in lies banKi'iiptcy. Bankrupt- was now employed by liis son. a fruit merchant, at £! a week. Johns’ statement of affairs showed that his assets wore £2045 19s sd, including 1000 shares in Austin linn Emit and Produce Company. Limited, and book debts owing to him of £lls. His liabilities amounted to £4295 13s. The examination was concluded.