MEETING OF CREDITORS.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXV, Issue 10229, 21 June 1883, Page 3

MEETING OF CREDITORS.

A meeting of the oreditors of Richard Menbennet was held yesterday afternoon in the Grand Jury Boom for the purpose of examining the debtor and his •wife. Thsre -were present — Messrs Holcroft, Sharpe, Nicholas, S. Wright (Trustee), and Mv Hutchison. — Eiohavd Menhennet, examined on oath by Mr Hutchison, deposed : That his wife told him that she got in the eeoond box of tea while there was part of another in the house because, as she wautod soap, she might as well get a box of tea also. About three months ago he took over to Mr Watt's gardener an unopened box of tea and a green box -with two or three ahirts in it, and perhaps two or three items besides, hut did not take a ba" of sugar. Wanted to borrow £3 from him, and that was the security, Returned the money a month afterwards out of his wife'? savings and got back the things. Bid not tell Okes, the gardener, that ho wanted to lay by a few things, but may have tola him that he was in difficulties. Had not drunk with Okes outside his house this yeav, but may have had a glass of wine with him in his (Menhennet's) own house. Used to get a dozen of wine at a time from Soler. The last he got in might have been a month or two before filing. Did not kuow of any spirits. Could give no more information about the things obtained from Mr Bell. Beceirod £'() for goods sold to Peyman. He and Lis wife took them to Peyman's, but never mado sny arrangement for paying rent for ihu room whera die gooas wyrs put. Did aou cpoad a'jy of the HO hL-n---seif but gava it to his wife, who paid it a^vav ia & c losra afc 3ifio revit P^ ces - Peyniaa said that if he (Menhennet) ' wanted to buy iho thmga buck the

interest on the money would be about 2s a week. The debtor then retired from the room. — Mrs Menhennet, who carried an infant in her arms, was called. —Mr Hutchison was proceeding to administer the oath to her, when she kissed the book aud said, " I swear I'll not answer any questions." — Mr Hutchison completed the words of the oath, but Mrs Menhennet refused to answer any questions whatever. — Mr Hutchison and Mr Wright remonstrated with her, but she refused to again take the Bible in hor hand, or to say anything more. Mr Hutchison told her that the trustee would be compelled to apply to the , Judge for a warrant to compel her to give evidence, though none of the creditors wanted to see her punished in that way. All they wished was to get the truth from her. — Mrs Menhennet stated that she would take no further oath, and that she distinctly refused to answer any questions. She admitted, however, that her name was Julia, and that she was Richard Menhennet's wife. — Mr Hutchison then nsked her if she took the management of t'>o house and ordered the goods from lie creditors, but she refused to answ r the questions. Mr Hutchison read her the section of the Act by which shu could be sent to gaol in default of bail for refusing to take the oath or give information. — Mrs Menhennet replied that perhaps they would like to keep her there for 21 years. — Mr Hutchison reminded her that, if she went to gaol, the child in her arms would have to go with her — or perhaps would not be allowed to go, which would be worse still. — Mrs Menhennet again stated positively that she would neither be sworn nor answer questions. — Mr Sharpe endeavoured to persuade her to answer without the Court compelling her to do so, but without avail. — Mr Hutchison asked her if she would like

to have her husband present. She replied that that would make no difference whatever. If her husband had not done what she told him to do, he would not have been in the position he was. She would have nothing whatever to do with it. In reply to Mr Hutchison, she I said that she had nothing to say or suggest, and was not deterred by the threat of being sent to gaol in default of bail. In any case she didn't suppose any one would bail her. Mrs Menhennet, radiant with Bmiles, then retired from the room, and joined her husband.— The Trustee (Mr Wright), said that he had spoken to Menhennet, who stated that he had tried to persuade his wife to give evidence, but without success. After some discussion, the Trustee was instructed to take steps to have Mrs Menhennet brought up for examination before the Court. The Trustee reported that, after allowing the debtor the legal £25 worth of property, he had taken possession of certain goods valued roughly at £15. The schedule j of articles given up to the debtor showed | their estimated value to be £31 18s 9d. I The'Tiustee said that he had asked Mr Peyman to attend to give evidence, but had tendered him no money for his expenses. Peyman had refused to come. The meeting then adjourned.