Alleged Absconding of a Birmingham Bankrupt: At the Birmingham Police Court yesterday morning, before Mr. Kynnersley (stipendiary) an application was made for a warrant against Mr. Arthur William Johnson, described as a draper, late of 210 Aston Road. It was explained that Johnson had lately sailed for Australia with a considerable sum of money. He had since been declared bankrupt, and would arrive today at Malta … … As above stated, a warrant was issued by the Registrar, but it was not deemed sufficient to stop Johnson’s passage to Australia. Shortly after one o’clock, Mr. Pinsent (Barlow, Smith, and Pinsent) came into court and resumed the application for a warrant. Mr. Hebbert: I don’t quite see now what you want to do. This letter, which you have handed to me states that the depositions must be forwarded to the Secretary of State: But I cannot see what we have to do with these documents. They are bankruptcy documents: Mr. Pinsent: I have laid a sworn information, and I now want Mr. Kynnersley to grant me a warrant, in addition to the one issued by Mr. Registrar Cole. The matter really comes under the Fraudulent Debtors Act, and these are the depositions which we have taken. Mr. Pinsent here handed to the Bench the deposition made by Mr. Court, cashier, Harborne, which stated that two days before Johnson absconded, he sold £10 worth of goods to the deponent at a reduction of 20 per cent …The warrant of the Registrar, it was explained would have to pass through the Home and Colonial Office: Mr. Pinsent said that on the 6th of May Johnson sailed by the ship Shannon of the P. and O. line for Australia, leaving his wife and three children behind him … Mr. Hebbert: I don’t see what we have to do with it: Mr. Pinsent: According to the Fugitive Offenders Act, it is necessary that we should obtain a warrant from the magistrates. A warrant for Johnson’s apprehension was then granted. …
Transcribed in whole or part from scanned originals: Presented with or without modified text and punctuation. For absolute accuracy refer to the original newspapers. Source: The British Newspaper Archive.
Referenced
GRO0738 Devonport: Richard Alfred Pinsent: 1852 – 1948