Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), Thursday 2 July 1925, page 6


PICTURE PRODUCER.

-A-.

EVIDENCE IN BANKRUPTCY.

Examined by Mr W H Palmer, official assignee, before the Registrar in Bankruptcy (Mr N C Lockhart) yesterday, Arthur Shirley, whose estate was sequestrated on April 24 last, stated that he came from Hobart (where he was born) 24 years ago He was on the stage then, and had been connected with the stage or films ever since in later years with moving pictures entirely He was now a motion picture producer and actor He was bankrupt before, in December 1915, on his own petition After the last bankruptcy he brought an action against Mr Wil-loughby and recovered damages He believed that out of the verdict enough was paid to the official assignee to pay his only creditor in full and all costs and charges, but he was not sure on that He was at present producing pictures for Pyramid Pictures Pioprletury. Ltd in Melbourne, under a contract made in April 1931 to produce and appear He was receiving 4-20 a week when actually engaged on the picture, and £18 between pictures His agreement was for a period of seven years Primarily, his present bankruptcy had been brought about by the Hate, spleen, and malice, of his partner, Ernest Higgins, and, secondly, the loss of a lawsuit, which he brought against his partner two years ago, and which case was caused by the action of his partner in crossing his agreement with him in connection with the production of a picture called The Throwback,' which he was to produce and star in The action was tried In Sydney, before the Chief Justice and a July, and a verdict was given for Higgins with costs He lost the case on a technical point, and should have sued in the Equity Court. The CORRs were taxed at £390 odd Before he was made bankrupt he made an offer to pay Mr Higgins is a week Immrlately, and as a week later, which offer was refused He commenced a suit in Equity against Higgins, but nothing had been done in it except that the statement of claim was proposed and counsel consulted