A HAWERA BANKRUPT.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXII, Issue 9006, 20 November 1907, Page 2

A HAWERA BANKRUPT.

Por Press Association. Auckland, November 19. In tho Paterson bankruptcy case tlie jury returned to Court at 5.30 with a verdict of guilty on the third count, but the foreman stated they had failed to arrive at any decision on the othera. Prisoner was remanded till to-morrow. Auckland, November 20. Before tho Sunromo Court-, Alexander Pat;ter«o;i, who was charged with breaches of the Bankruptcy Act, and found guilty on ouo count, was brought up for sentence, Mr Justice Dcuniston said he would treat accused Ha a man who was personally honest, but, "As a trader,"' addressing accused his Honour said, "your conduct has been reckless iu the oxtreme. Yon uinsfc have known at tlie time you entered into possession of this largo quantity of goods during your last years of trading that you were absolutely in tho hands of your creditors, and carrying ou only by their grace. You never at any time took steps reallv to know your pesition. It is impossible to doubt, to my mind, that the reason was that yovt could not venturo to do so. I believe that your not keeping your books was simply a very natural desfro to shirk realising your position. It seems to mo you pvefererd to plunge for that year, with the result we have heard. I must do my duty, and sentence you to a teim of imprisonment. Following precedent, I sentence you to six mouths. In view of the fact that you have not been guilty of personal fraud I shall not inflict hard labour. Mr Reed asked that prisoner bo treated as a first-class misdemeament, which indulgence his Honour granted, adding ho wanted to _ givo pirsoner every indulgence consistent with his views regarding tho issues ou which tho jury failed to agree. announced liis intention of applying to the Attoriiey-Goneral for a nulli prosequi.