ACTRESS HAS 12/10

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 944, 10 April 1930, Page 11

ACTRESS HAS 12/10

TANGLED FINANCE OF MURIEL STARR EXAMINED IN BANKRUPTCY United I*.A. — Bzj Telegraph—Copyright MELBOURNE, April 1. Muriel Johnston (professionally known as Muriel Starr), the actress, voluntarily sequestrated her estate on February 7 last, and she was examined recently in the Bankruptcy Court. Her statement of affairs disclosed that the unsecured liabilities were € 3,427, assets (cash in hand), 12s lOd, and 25 stage dresses, valued at .€3O. She informed her Official Receiver (Mr. C. F. W. Lloyd) that she considered the cause of her bankruptcy the failure of the public to support her various theatrical ventures. That position, she said, was caused partly through the advent of the talkies, and the general depression. IN DEBT TO J.C.W. At one period she was receiving €SO a week from J. C. Williamson, Ltd. Her last season at the Palace Theatre was a failure, and, at the end of that season she owed J. C. Williamson, Ltd.. €2,580. “I have no prospect of theatrical engagements,” she added, “and when opportunity offers, I intend to return to the TJ.S.A. I am the wife of William Hartwell Johnston, and I was married in 191 S. I have no family, and I am living apart from my husband. He is not making me any allowance. When I married my husband he was sent over from the U.S.A. by Wrigley's, to manage the business in Australia. At present he is in America. Apart from the money owing to J. C. Williamson, Ltd., all the other debts contracted at the time she expected to be able to meet them. She was then solvent.