CONTRACTING DEBTS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 760, 5 September 1929, Page 6

CONTRACTING DEBTS

BANKRUPT GROCER IN DOCK COMMITTED FOR TRIAL Pleading not guilty on three charges of contracting debts that he had no reasonable prospect of paying, John Gilbert Helieur, a grocer, was committed for trial at the Supreme Court after evidence had been heard against him at the Police Court this morning. npHE three charges concerned the three months prior to May 31, when accused had been adjudged bankrupt. The debts allegedly contracted, amounted to £165 15s 3d in May, £63 13s 7d in March, and £lO6 14s 4d in April. Mr. V. N. Hubble prosecuted and Mr. Singer appeared for defendant. Wilfred Laurence Roberts described himself as accountant at the office of the official assignee at Auckland. The assignee was in charge of the estate of John Gilbert Helleui'. Witness produced statements which, he said, showed Helleur’s position at the time of the bankruptcy. In Helleur’s estimate he had made his assets £251 15s Id, and his liabilities £630 17s Id, leaving a deficiency of £379 2s. Investigation had shown that the actual deficiency was £6lB 7s 4d, and that Helieur could pay only Is lid in the pound. Helieur had started in business as a grocer in August, 1928, with a borrowed capital of £IOO. He then had debts amounting to £l5O also. During the months of March, April and May he had incurred further debts totalling £520. “His hooks appear to have been opened in January, 1929,” added witness.

Members of the firms with which accused was said to have contracted debts during the three months mentioned in the charge then gave evidence.

Bail was fixed in one surety of £IOO.