The Rushden Echo, 12th March, 1909, transcribed by Jim Hollis
Rushden Boot Firm’s Affairs - Creditors’ Meeting
The creditors of Arthur Ellard, trading as J. Ellard and Co., boot manufacturers, Sartoris-road, Rushden, met at the office of Mr. F. Roberts, Northampton, on Wednesday, Mr. C. Tate (Davis and Co., Bristol) presiding.
was as follows :-
Liabilities. - Unsecured creditors, £2,714/17/4; creditors for rent, rates, taxes, wages, etc., £50; liabilities on bills discounted, £639/3/1, of which it is expected will rank against the estate for dividend, £35; total, £2,749/17/4.
Assets. - Stock-in-trade, cost £615/8/11, estimated to produce £550; book debts £456/11/0, in hand, £110/10/0; machinery, plant, etc., £550, estimated at £420; total assets, £1,490/1/0; less creditors for rent, etc., as per contra, £50; net assets £1,440/1/0; deficiency, £1,309/16/4; total £2,749/17/4.
Mr. Roberts added that debtor took over the business on the death of his father about 15 months ago. There was then£200 to £300 capital in the business. Debtor borrowed £300 from his mother. Unfortunately the trading had been
He had made bad debts, and this and shortness of capital had handicapped him, so that he had found it impossible to go on. Debtor found himself so completely tied up that there was no alternative but to call the creditors together. The deficiency was accounted for within £4 odd. The chief items of the deficiency account were £70 loss on trading from July last year to the present date. £432 loss by bad debts, and £114 for personal drawings. The sales for the past seven months were £7,130, on which the gross profit had been only trifling. Debtor had tried to change the character of his trade from dealing with retailers to dealing with whole-salers, but the result had proved serious.
of 4 per cent, only had been made, and the recent fire caused great loss.
The Chairman observed that it could not be said it was through extravagance that Mr. Ellard failed.
Mr. Roberts said the debtor had tried his very best, but taking everything into consideration, he now thought there was no possible chance for him, and he therefore made no offer. He intended to take a situation.
It was resolved to wind up the estate under a deed of assignment to Mr. Roberts, with a committee.
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The Rushden Echo, 20th August 1909, transcribed by Gill Hollis
A Rushden Shoe Trade Failure
Deficiency, £1,704
In the bankruptcy of Arthur Ellard, trading as J. Ellard and Co., boot manufacturers, of Sartoris-road, Rushden, a first meeting of creditors will be held at the office of the Official Receiver, Northampton, on Monday next. The public examination will be held on October 26, at Northampton.
The following is a summary of the bankrupt’s statement of affairs: Unsecured creditors, £2,764 8s 7d: creditor for preferential rates, payable in full, £5 (deducted contra) -- £2,764 8s 7d. Assets: Cash in hands of trustee under deed of assignment £908: book debts, goods £145 1s 8d do., bad £47 5s 0d estimated to produce £6 18s 4d, bills of exchange £9 1s 3d, estimated to produce £5 -- £1,065; deduct creditor for preferential rates (per contra), £5 -- £1,060; deficiency, £1,704 8s 7d.
as stated by the bankrupt are: “Bad debts, insufficient capital, and I admit I was unwise in taking over my father’s business.”
The Deputy Official Receiver, in his observations, states that the receiving order was made on a creditor’s petition filled May 27, 1909, the act of bankruptcy committed by the debtor being the execution of an assignment of his property on March 27, 1909, to a trustee for the benefit of his creditors generally. The receiving order (made on July 3, 1909) was appealed against by the trustee under the assignment. The appeal was heard on July 27 last and dismissed. The receiving order was served upon the Official Receiver on the 6th inst. the debtor was
on August 11 on his own consent. The bankrupt (27) commenced business on his own account on January 13, 1908. The business had previously been carried on by his late father for a number of years under the name of J. Ellard Co., the bankrupt assisting him. Just prior to and the business being taken over by the bankrupt – i.e. December, 1907 – a balance-sheet was prepared which showed an excess of assets over liabilities to the extent of £204 3s 2d, and in addition to this the bankrupt had £60 free capital. The business was continued until the beginning of March last, when the bankrupt found it necessary to have professional advice.
was held on March 10, 1909, when it was resolved that the bankrupt should execute an assignment, which he subsequently did. The trustee realised the estate (with the exception of certain book debts) prior to the receiving order, and he has rendered an account to the Official Receiver. The books of account kept are cash books, debt and credit ledgers, day book, invoice book, and wages book. Balance-sheets and stock-sheets have been prepared. The last balance-sheet, dated July 7th, 1908, shows a deficiency of £46 13s 5d, and it was at this time that the bankrupt first became aware of his insolvency. Several of the debts now owing have been contracted since then, but the bankrupt states that trade was improving at the time and he hoped to pull through, and would have done so if it had not been for the bad debts. According to the statement of affairs there are 34 creditors whose debts exceed £10, and of the total indebtedness £254 13s 6d is for money borrowed in March, 1908, £291 12s 8d bank overdraft, and the remainder are ordinary trade liabilities.
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The Rushden Echo, 29th October, 1909, transcribed by Gill Hollis
A Rushden Shoe Trade Failure - Re: Ellard And Co. - Deficiency, £1.704
Arthur Ellard, carrying on business under the style of J. Ellard and Co., boot and shoe manufacturers, Sartoris-road, Rushden, came up for his public examination of Tuesday at the Northampton Bankruptcy Court.
Gross liabilities, £2,769/8/7; £2,764/8/7 estimated to rank for dividend; assets, £1,060; deficiency, £1,704/8/7.
The debtor said the commenced business in January, 1908. The business had been previously carried on by his father under the same name, and witness had assisted him. The books were audited in his father’s time, and balance-sheets were made out. On the death of his father, when witness took over the business, no balance-sheet was made out, but it was afterwards shown that the business was solvent, with capital £204/3/10. In 1908 another balance-sheet was made out, and the deficiency shown as £47/13/5. He went on after that, hoping to
When his father died they were short of trade, but were beginning to pull the business round. After nine months he found it necessary to call his creditors together, and an account was prepared, showing a deficiency of £1,309/16/4; but he went on buying and paying – trying to pay everyone. In nine months up to March this year he bought stuff to the extent of £4,775, paid wages to the extent of £1894/14/4, carriage £86/19/4, and the stock was taken at £739/7/9. There was a balance to the bad of £249/15/2, on the purchases and sales; and he found he had bought too dearly and sold too cheaply.
The Official Receiver: Then you have been selling boots at less than they cost you?
Debtor said he instructed counsel to fight the receiving order being made, but did not know whether it cost his estate anything. The furniture in the house was his wife’s.
The examination was adjourned.
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