Smith, £9,923; Francis Smith, £8,565; losses, £22,423, Bank expenses. £12,980; profits divided (£4,200 to each partner) £16,800l deficiency on 22nd of July, 1857, £15,260. It was stated that all parties concurred that Francis Smith and George Scrivens should pass their examination, but it was proposed to adjourn the examination of the other parties, as Tilden Smith, subject to paralysis, was very ill, and James Hilder, at 87 years of age could not pledge his oath to facts contained in the balance-sheets. Mr. Commissioner Lane remarked that such a speedy realisation of assets was very creditable. Between July and October £87,533 belonging to the joint estate had been realised and further sums had been received from the separate estates.
Re Richard Smith - This bankrupt, whose debts and liabilities were about £40,000, and his assets about £6,000, owed the Bank £18,000.
James Hilder's Examination. Mr Hilder was 87 years of age; had managed the Robertsbridge branch of the Bank, the stoppage of which on the 26tth or 27th July, when there was £306 in hand, which he paid away, but knew not to whom. Perhaps his son John took it away. He might have had £50 or more himself. He had poor relations who sometimes wanted money. His clerk Adams had made entries up to June. His son farmed about 20 acres. His son had £509 twenty years ago, and he (the father) thought he could write it off on that day. His wife had destroyed his private ledger. His son had as much money as he liked from him. He supposed other people gave money to their children sometimes. He believed his son took the £500 himself, as he used to tell him he might take what money he liked as a gift. The money was his (the bankrupt's) own, and he thought he might do what he liked with it. His son was now on the Continent for change of air, he being unwell from excitement caused by the bankruptcy. When the others took their shares of the profits he did the same, and had received sums amounting to £1,600, which he might have given to his son John as presents. Scrivens did not let him know when the Bank was going to stop; he took it all upon himself to do. He knew that Smith's a/c was overdrawn. The failure of Richard Smith no doubt stoppd the Bank. He found that at one time Smith's debt was £31,000, that being £7,000 or £8,000 more than they had notes in circulation. In 1848 he mortgaged his own estate to Mr. Luck for -
