REMANDED TO WELLINGTON.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9087, 12 May 1908, Page 5

REMANDED TO WELLINGTON.

nr TELEGRAPH —I'KKSS AH<OCIAT >N. AUCKLAND, May 11. Albert Clarence Elliott was charged with stealing .£1 received from Henry Robsou Wood on account of Sir Kenneth Douglas, and failing to account for the same. The police asked for a week's remand to Wellington. Elliott offered no objection, and the application was grmtad.

MEETING OF CREDITORS IN WELLINGTON.

An adjourned meeting of the creditors of A. C. Elliott, the bankrupt land and estate agent of Wellington, was held before the Official Assignee (Mr A. Simpson), at Wellington yesterday. The following solicitors attended in the interests of various creditors: Messrs Richmond, M'Grath, Kirkcaldie, Luckie and Buddie. Seven other creditors and Elliott's partner (Mr Thos. Duncan) were present. The Official Assignee stated that in accordance with his promise, he had obtained a report from the police, which confirmed the statements he had previously made. He hardly required to read the report, as Elliott had given himsef up to the police at Auckland. The police here had wired instructions to have Elliott brought before the court in Auckland on the information laid by Mr A. J. Wicks, and to have bankrupt remanded to Wellington. Accused should be in Wellington on Wednesday night. That would relieve the creditors of a great deal of trouble and anxiety. When the case was heard it would be necessary for him to get bankrupt before a meeting of creditors. The whole matter should be left in his (the Official Assignee's) hands, and he would give the creditors ample notice. Mr Simpson went on to say that he had examined Miss Bremmer that morning. Her evidence was read as follows: Violet Bremmer, typists for the bankrupt, stated that she started work with the bankrupt about the first week in August, 1906, at 12s 6d per week, and increases up to 25s per week, Sir: th? roug 1 ] cash buok and al&o iu keap the iO tailers' ledger. She entered the accounts and marked them off when paid. That ledger was still in the office. It belonged to the Retailers' Protection Association. She had seen no other books kept. Her salary was paid every Saturday, chiefly by cheque, but - ocasionally by cash. Messr3 Graham, Mountfort, Payne, Cotton, Oswin, and Dell were employed by Elliott casually. Mr Cotton was employed on the Retailers' Protection Association, but witness could net say how long. Letter books were kept, but latterly duplicate copies had been taken, which were in the office. Witness was engaged by Elliott, and had been employed on the firm's work. She banked money at the National Bank in the name of A. C. Elliott. The firm kept no banking account.

Mr Simpson: That was all the evidence she could supply. I also examined Mr Duncan, bankrupt's partner. His evidence was as follows :

Thomas Duncan, a member of the firm, saif he bought out Mr Smith on July 29th, 1906, paying £2OO in cash for one half-share in the firm cf Elliott ana Smith. He did not enter the office until December, 1906, and drew nothing from the firm between July and December, 1906. From December, 1906, to the present time he had drawn from the business £386 way of salary. This was banked to his private account. It was always paid to him by Elliott, invariably bv cheque, but once by cash. He had been under the impression that Elliott kept the firm's books, as he had promised. Elliott had led him to believe that he was keeping books right up to the last as he had stated he was then writing them up to date and would hand them over to witness. Instead of doing so he had only sent his cheque butts, which were handed.to witness by Mr Dunbar Sloane just 'about the time that Elliott left the dominion. He had not seen Elliott since.

The Official Assignee said that was as far as he had been able to go, It was for the creditors to ask Mr Duncan any questions they saw fit. Perhaps, however, it would be better to postpone any further examination of Mr Duncan until EHiott was present. It was also for them to say what course should be pursued. At the request of Mr Simpson, Mr M'Grath thmi read the following report from Inspector EllisonWellington, 9th May, 1908. .Re Bankruptcy of Albert Clarence Elliott — Dear Sir, —Referring to your conversation on the above subject with Chief Detective M'Grath and SubInspector O'Donovan, I beg to inform you Elliott left Wellington for Sydi:?y on April 17tli per s.s. Maheno. I understand you were verbally notified of this on the 2nd inst. by Chief-Detective M'Grath. On the 7th inst. a warrant for Elliott's arrest, on a charge of theft of ,£l2 was issued upon the sworn information of Mr A. J. Wicks. After the warrant was issued a cablegram was sent by the Commissioner of Police here to the police of Sydney asking them to endeavour to locate the accuser). If this can be done Mr Wicks and yourself will be promptly notified. I am now directed to inform you that nothing further can be

done unless extradition expenses are guaranteed, and if there is to be any chance of tracing accused and securing his arrest the sooner a guarantee is given the better. Referring to certain remarks made at meetings of creditors (reported in the press) regarding what the police were expected to do, I desire to point out that the first intimation to the police that any criminal charge was likely to be made against Elliott was on the 30th ult., thirteen days after his departure, when you informed Chief-Detective M'Grath some criminal charges would probably arise after the meeting of creditors which was then fixed for the 4th inst. Steps were then taken to locate Elliott, with the result that it was ascertained he had left this dominion on the 17th ult., and was duly notified to you on the 2nd inst. Had any of the persons who held evidence of criminal o't'ences coma forward and furnished particulars necessary to establish a criminal charge, and produced the exhibits in cheir possession to the 17th ult., there is no doubt Elliott could have been arrested without expense or difficulty. I desire to point out for your information that if Elliott has to be extradited from beyond Australia, say from New Caledonia, Tahiti, or Honolulu, it is only on the actual charges he may be extradited upon that he could afterwards be lawfully tried here. No new charges could be preferred against him on arrival in this dominion. —I have, etc., J. W. Ellison, Inspector."

After some discussion it was moved by Mr Richmond, and seconded by Mr Cotton, that the Official Assignee should be instructed to sell the equities of redemption in the Murphy street, Goring street and Miramar properties. This was carried unanimously. Some discussion took place on the question of bankrupt's interest in the business of the Retailers' Protection Association. Mr Simpson said Elliott hai paid £SOO for the right to publish it? confidential reports, and there was a sum of £2OO due in this respect on a promissory note. The payment fell due on the 15th instant. In answer to a question by the Official Assignee, Mr Cotton stated that there were probably 600 subscribers to the Retailers' Protection Association throughout the North Island.

Mr Simpson intimated that another meeting would be held at the earliest possible date. Abridged from "Evening Post "