QSR1887/2/5/3

Depositions of Henry Ralph Bleeze, William Morris, Matthew Saunders, Alfred Atkins and Albert Carter and Alfred Ewen, Park Street West, Luton. In the case of Charles Chandler accused of committing offences under the Debtors' Act of 1869.

16 February 1887

From: 1887 To: 1887

Henry Ralph Bleeze: clerk to the registers of the Luton County Court. He was able to produce the file in Charles Chandler’s bankruptcy. The petition was dated 15 October 1886 and a Receiving order was dated 16 October, adjudicating him bankrupt on the same day. The order appointed official receives and trustees on the 16 October, with a Summary Order of Administration made on 25 October and an Order by County Court Judge for this prosecution on 27 January 1887. Alfred Ewen: Official Receiver in bankruptcy and on 16 October he received an order with regard to Chandler. He instructed Chandler in the ordinary way on 22 October and he filed his statement sworn before Ewen. The statement showed assets of £3 9s 5d. On the form, the questions relating to furniture were left blank and he gave no inventory of furniture. He understood from his conversation with Chandler that the furniture had been assigned. An order was made for Summary Administration and a date was fixed for creditor committal of 30 October. Ewen had not been satisfied with Chandler’s answers about the furniture and had an inventory made. He saw a valuation made by Holyoak in 1883 a couple of days after the first one was ordered. The public examination was on 25 November 1886 and shorthand notes were taken by Mr Atkins by order of the trust. [cross examination] Chandler said Mr Saunders held the deed of assignment for the furniture. William Morris: clerk to Alfred Ewen and it was his duty to go through the Bankrupts statement. He recalled Chandler bringing a statement on 20 October and he went through all of it with him. He called attention to the furniture and he was told by Chandler that it belonged to Saunders. It had been assigned in 1883 under a deed of assignment to creditors. This was the reason given for not putting the furniture on the statement. Morris drew up a report after Chandler signed the answers to the questions on the Official Receivers report. On 30 October he was present at the creditors meeting. A copy of the inventory was shown to Chandler and he said that was the document he had sold the furniture. On 2 November Saunders came to the office and made a communication to Morris. The furniture was sold by the trustees and received £21; the valuation having been £24. Matthew Saunders: a butcher of Ramsgate who had known the bankrupt for some years. In 1883 he lived in Luton and he recalled Chandler making an arrangement with his creditors and he bought the furniture from the trustees to help him. He bought it at Mr Holyoaks valuation and got a receipt. On 14 July 1883 he paid Mr Holyoak £25 14s 6d. Chandler was to have the furniture back if he paid for it. Chandler repaid him the £25 14s 6d in about 1885 when Saunders was leaving Luton. He returned to Chandler the documents and he no further claim to the furniture. He heard nothing more of it until this time. He met Morris on 30 October and in consequence went to Mr Ewen’s office on 2 November. He had met Chandler by chance the day before and knew he was bankrupt.. Chandler told him must have overlooked the papers and had told Ewen that the property belonged to Saunders. Chandler had also had meat from him and settled that bill. Alfred Atkins: a shorthand writer who was present at the public examination on 25 November. When asked why had had failed to list the furniture in the statement of his affairs, Chandler replied it was because he had business with Saunders and thought he held the deed of assignment as security. Atkins presented the responses Chandlers had made. Albert Carter: commission agent and debt collector. He had several debts to collect from the bankrupt and had seen him several times. About 10 months previous, Chandler said the furniture was 'old Matts’. Statement of the accused: he had nothing to say and would call no witnesses.

14 pages

item

Bleeze, Henry Ralph,
Morris, William,
Saunders, Matthew,
Atkins, Alfred,
Carter, Albert

LUTON, debtor, Clerk to the County Court, Official Receiver in Bankruptcy, clerk, butcher, furniture, shorthand writer, BANKRUPTCY