Saffron Walden Weekly News 19 Mar 1897: William Saunders bankruptcy

Unable To Look After The Business

Re William Saunders, farmer and dealer, Trumpington. – Examined by Mr Savill the debtor said he commenced business at Trumpington 30 years ago, having £100 of borrowed capital which had been paid. He carried on the business until he sold it. He had not been able to look after the business for 14 years, and his sons had done so. About 11 years ago he took a farm which his eldest son looked after. He could not look after the farm but he thought there might be a living to be made out of it for him and his sons. He bought six cottages at Harston for £150 in 1877, and paid £150 to make them freehold. In 1881 he bought cottages in Cherryhinton and had bought some property in Trumpington. He was alright financially until the summer of 1893, and he knew then he could not pay after that.

Bad Season

In October, 1892, he got into trouble for shooting a man and had to pay £30. He borrowed £100 on the Harston property and paid the remaining money to his creditors. He raised another mortgage to carry on his business. He hoped to get on through better times. In June, 1893, he sold some property to his son Henry, who carried on his business for him. He never paid his son anything. His son paid him £125 10s. for the horses and carts. He thought his son got money by killing pigs and doing odd jobs. He paid creditors with the money he received. His son did not take the things away, but left them on the place.

His son did not change the name on the carts at once, but did so in January, before anyone pressed him for money. The mortgage was paid off the Trumpington property by his son and daughters, when his son bought it. He did not know what the property was mortgaged for now. When this was done his creditors were not pressing him. Under the deed the business was to be his son’s, and he was to have £1 a week for life. It was not his intention to secure himself and his son against the creditors. – Mr Ginn, on behalf of Mr Pearce, a creditor, questioned the debtor, and the debtor said he went to Mr Prior in January of the present year: the name over the door was altered after that. – Mr Ginn: Do you remember the sheriff’s officer coming there? – Debtor: Yes, who sent him? – Mr Ginn: I did. – Debtor: What for? – The Registrar said that debtor must not question Mr Ginn. -Debtor said that he had a letter from Mr Ginn’s firm on January 26th asking for the payment of £160. He went to Mr Prior some time before he got the letter. -The debtor complained of illness, and the examination was adjourned, it being understood that a private examination would be held in the meantime.