MILTON-UNDER-WYCHWOOD.

Serious Accident to a Lad.- A sad accident occurred to a boy (son of Mr. A. Pratley, butcher); on Saturday, May 26th. It appears that Mr. R. Hall (Chipping Norton) was driving a horse and trap belonging to Messrs. Webb and Son, of Chipping Norton, from Shipton to Milton, when the little fellow was at play with other children, and not noticing the approaching trap in running across the road, was instantly knocked down before Hall had a chance of pulling up. The lad is suffering from concussion of the brain, and is in a precarious condition. No blame is attached to Hall, as the lad ran in front of the horse before he had a chance of pulling up. Hall immediately drove to Milton for the doctor, and rendered every assistance he could.

MILTON-UNDER-WYCHWOOD.

The Coronation.- Tea was provided by the Ben Venvell at the parish room for the children, and the S.M.H. children from Shipton sat down with them. To defray the tea expenses Miss Kate Pratley collected for the children from the homes, and C. Miles and E. Bradley for the Maypole children, while the dance was going on.

club day.

This village was en fete on Whit Monday, the occasion of the annual dinner of the Milton branch of the Cirencester Benefit Society, which has just experienced a very successful year, the membership at present being 120, an increase of 23 on the year.

The visitors present included Messrs. R. Gorton, F. Cross, F. Franklin and J. Watson, and there were also present Mr. J. Groves (chairman of the lodge), Mr. A. Pratley (secretary), W. Arnold (treasurer), and Messrs. E. Bradley, C. Miles, and H. Skiner (members of the committee).

After the usual loyal toasts and been honoured, the chairman submitted the health of the club. In submitting the toast he coupled with it the names of the secretary (Mr. A. Pratley) and the chairman of the lodge (Mr. J. Groves.

Mr. Pratley, who first responded, said it was a very great pleasure for him to do anything for the lodge, and he hoped that whatever he did met with the satisfaction of the lodge. They must all work on to the best of their ability and make the club a success. They were quite welcome to what services he could render the club, for he was anxious, as he was sure they all were, that the Milton Club should be a successful and prosperous club. He deplored the small attendance of members at church, as he was of opinion that unless the club started its anniversary in a proper manner they could not hope to make it a success. He hoped that during the year the membership would still further increase, and he further hoped that by the next club day each member would have been responsible for at least one new member.

Mr. J. Groves also responded, and endorsed the remarks of Mr. Pratley.

Mr. Pratley proposed the health of the visitors, and coupled with the toast the names of Mr. F. Cross and Mr. J. Watson, and the first-named gentleman having briefly responded, the proceedings terminated.

The Bankruptcy Acts, 1883 and 1890

In the Country

Adjudications

Pratley, Albert, Milton under Wychwood, Oxfordshire, butcher.

OXFORD BANKRUPTCY COURT.

A sitting of this Court was held on Wednesday morning, at the County Hall, before the Registrar, Mr. Percival Walsh.

milton-under-wychwood butcher's insolvency.

Re. Albert Pratley, formerly butcher, of Milton-under-Wychwood. In reply to the Official Receiver, the debtor stated that his liabilities amounted to £162 19s. 11d. and he expected his assets to rank at £116 15s. 5d. He was formerly a journeyman trader and about six years ago he started a butcher's business with a capital of £30. He had no financial difficulties until 1902 when he commenced building a house. He bought land at £103, the whole of the money being borrowed. He also borrowed money with which to build the house. The actual cost of acquiring the house was £600, and of that amount £485 was borrowed. He paid about £115 with money he received by selling his carrying business. As a result of allowing the carrying business to change hands he got behind with his accounts, and having no ready money the butcher's business was too handicapped to be made to pay. Although he commenced in business with only a small capital he made a profit for the first four years. He would have been in no financial difficulties at all if he had not been so foolish as to acquire a large house. That was really the cause of his failure. He kept day books and a debtors' ledger, but he had never made out any balance-sheets or kept a profit and loss account. The first time he was aware of his insolvency was Christmas in last year. When he had the house built he thought he would have been enabled to discharge his liabilites he had incurred from the profits of his business. The estimated value of the premises was, in the opinion of his neighbours more that what they would realise. He borrowed of William Titcomb, of Miton-under-Wychwood, last December £25, and at about the same time contracted a debt of £17 18s. 11d. with Mr. Treweeke. At the present time he was overdrawn at the bank to the extent of 17s. 10d. When he became aware of his insolvency he expected he would be able to satisfy his creditors with money he would receive by selling his business and letting his house. He now admitted that if he had been able to do that, the amount he would have obtained would not have been sufficient to satisfy the whole of his creditors. The reason he borrowed £25 from Mr. Titcomb was to pay Mr. Treweeke for two beasts he had purchased. Previous to borrowing the money he had given Mr. Treweeke a cheque for £30, but when it was presented at the bank it was dishonoured. The £25 that he borrowed was applied with an extra £5 to satisfy the dishonoured cheque.

By the Registrar: The money was really borrowed to pay for the beasts. He was of opinion that when Mr. Treweeke had the cheque returned he would not like to go away, when he came to see debtor, without his money.

Debtor further stated that his wife claimed part of the furniture. Before they married she had saved £30 with which she purchased some furniture.

The Registrar: Is it not unusual for the wife to purchase the furniture?- Debtor: Yes, sir.

The Official Receiver: In bankruptcy statements I think the practice is becoming more common.

By Mr. Titcomb: When he borrowed the £25 he did not represent the business as one of the best in the country, but said it was a fairly good business. By selling the carrying business he received £110. His average weekly profit had been between £2 and £2 10s. The carrying business when he was in possession of it, brought in about £2 a week. All the money he had made had gone into the business. Last year he only killed 240 pigs, for which he received 1s. each. He had not bought any furniture since the day his goods were sold up at Banbury. He had not promised any person that it was his intention to again go into business and make money with which to pay his creditors. He had no capital saved out of the business.

The Official Receiver, in answer to Mr. Titcomb, said the debtor's expenditure in regard to the building of the house was mild.

Debtor, continuing, denied that he had incurred debts since last Christmas to the amount of £80. The amount would be about £70.

Mr. Titcomb said he thought it was hard for him to lose over £100 when the debtor had been in the possession of one of the best businesses in Oxfordshire.

The examination was adjourned until October 19.