WELLINGTON SUPREME COURT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8991, 28 November 1907, Page 5

WELLINGTON SUPREME COURT.

CHARGES AGAINST A BANKRUPT. BY TELEGIi.U'H —PKESS ASSOC!AT.OS. WELLINGTON, November 27. At the Supreme Court, to-day, William George Tustin, for many years . in business in Wellington as a painter and paperhanger, who was adjudged a bankrupt last May, was chaifSd with having failed to keep prop«s®oks, and with .having contractecTclebts without reasonable ex- 1 pectation of being able to pay them. ' The Official Assignee deposed that i he was unable to ascertain accused's financial position from the books supplied to him. Henry Kember, accountant and auditor, deposed that the accused's books were not adequate. No account had been made out showing the expenses and receipts. There s was 110 stock or drawing account, no expense account, and it was an impossibility for the position' to be shown by the books.. There was a bill book, but no posting was done. A person could tell what He owed by his bills, even without a ledger. Witness found a deficit of £1,177 on January Ist, 1904. On October 31st, 1905, the deficit was £1,214; on January Ist, 1906, the deficit was £2,681; and at the time of the bankruptcy the deficiency was between £4,000 and £5,000. The accused, in a statement to the court, denied any intent to defraud. He had had heavy losses on contracts, but had always believed he could overcome his financial troubles. His losses were partly caused by having to pay lis and 12s per day to workers not worth more tha 1 s*s 6d or 6s. Whatever was the outcome of these proceedings, he would not rest until he had paid twenty shillings in the pound. The jury found accused guilty, but expressed the opinion that he had no intention to defraud. Sentence was deferred pending a decision by Mvi Court of Appeal on certain law joints. Tustin was allowed bail, himself in £SO and one surety of £SO.