BREACH OF PROMISE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 82, 23 August 1912, Page 5

BREACH OF PROMISE.

INDUCES BANKRUPTCY.By Telegraph.—Press Association. Pahiatua, Last Night. As a sequel to a recent breach of proraise case at Hamilton,' fa which plaintiff was awarded £l4O damages, the defendant, Rupert Smith, :now a' laborer resident at Ngatiru, recently filed a petition in bankruptcy. A meeting of creditors in the estate was held in Pahiatua to-day before Mr. J. D. Wilson, Deputy Official Assignee. The liabilities to unsecured creditors, including £l4O damages awarded in the breach of promise, were set down at £149 6s od, and the assets, comprising furniture, at £ls, leaving a deficiency of £134 6s 6d! Bankrupt, being sworn, stated that his principal creditor was Miss Clarke, whose claim arose out of a breach of promise for marriage case at Hamiltonjudgment for £l4O .befag- obtained against him in March/last. He could not raise the money to defend the case at Hamilton. A judgment summons was issued against him for the amount due to Miss Clark. He was unable to meet jit, and consequently filed. He was a casual laborer, working at Ngaturu. His average earnings during the winter were from £7 to £9 per month. He had He had been living in the Ngaturu district about six years, and had been engaged in sheep-breeding for for part of the time. He had owned some horses and also a gig, He sold the last horse about Christmas. 1 Several years ago he had hid leaned £SO out' at interest. The money was repaid by instalments, the balance about IS months ago,.. Asked as ('■> what he did with the proceeds of his horse and gig and the money that had been repaid him, he said .that he was a married man with a family of four, and had house rent to paw' He had been married about twenty months. He had no money now, and could not •make any offer to his creditors. Mr. Westlake moved that the.'bankrupt be rnpornrnen(|ed for his immediate discharge.' Bankrupt's case, he said, must appeal to every man who had an, ounce of huninnitw He thought the bankrupt deserved their sympathy. It was impossible for him. with his earninsrs. to make any payments to ' his , creditors. He had known bankrupt for about ten years, and had an excellent opinion of him. The motion recommending bankrupt's immediate discharge was carried unanimously, and bankrupt was allowed his furniture.