Shanghai, January 8.
Before F. 8. A. Bourns, Esq., OM.G., Asmstant Judge.
XH, E, Whiddett, In Bankruptcy.
The public examination of H. E. Whiddett, late marriager of the Ritz Caié & Catering Ca., was continued.
Mr. W. A. Robinson, Acting Official Receiver, conducted the examination, and Mr. John Have re presented Mr. Maguire, one of the creditors.
A statement was put in by H. E. Whiddert, after which he said that one of the firms with whom the Ritz Cafe traded was the China Trading Ca. Bhortly before the cafe ceased to carry on business there was 2 transaction between that concern and the China Trading Ca., which certain chits due to the Ritz Cafe were handed over. That was the only way, he said, that they were able to obtain credit from the China Trading Ca.
Mr. Robinson: Which of the partners was responsible for that transaction!—Only myself. Pre—vious to that I had had letters of withdrawal a" partners from Osptain on October 20, and Mr. F. H. Hyde, on October 21. An advance was made to the Ritz Cole shortly before it ceased to carry on business, by Mr. R. W. Sexton of $1,000 and Tls. 416. I had arranged that Mr. Sexton should take " mortgage of Tls. 10,000. He advanced this money 0 that pressing claims could be paid, and the balance of the Tls. 10,000 was to be paid over on the papers being signed and registered. The mortgage was drawn up by Mr. Holcomb, but was not signed. At the time that Mr. Sexton advanced the money he knew he had no security. As soon as the two partners withdrew from the business I called meeting of creditors, at which Mr. wing, the witness said that in Beptember he called a meeting of partners and asked for further capital of Tls. 6,000, and at the meeting Messrs. Hyde, Wong, Oshima and himself were present.
Mr. Robinson: What do you think were the causes of the failure of the Company!—In the first place there was a big drop in receipts when the authorities closed us at 2 o'clock instead of allowing to go on had done until 4 o'clock. They were our best hours. Then on the top of that came the war, when many of our patrons went away, and our expenses were too heavy to stand the loss, There was also a lack of capital.
The witness was examined by Mr. Hays, and he said that at the time
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.