Apologies for showing my ignorance of (early 20th century) bankruptcy procedures ...
John Robert Gough appeared before a bankruptcy court in Scarborough in November 1922. He told a curious tale!
He had been in partnership with a certain "Samuel Lawrence", running the North Bay cinema in Scarborough. In August, the two of them had a huge argument concerning Lawrence's work habits/drunkeness, which resulted in Gough leaving Scarborough for 6 weeks. On his return in mid September, he discovered that Lawrence, who had been entrusted with total financial responsibility within the partnership, had absconded with all the money, leaving him (Gough) bankrupt. Subsequently, Gough had tried but failed to learn of Lawrence's whereabouts.
I believe (for reasons I won't bore you with) that "Samuel Lawrence" was an alias, and that Gough's partner was actually my grandfather. And furthermore, that in November 1922 Gough knew exactly where my grandfather was, as he was living in Gough's house in Scarborough.
So this sounds like a crude attempt at fraud - but I can't figure out who is being defrauded. At the time, if a bankrupt turned up in court and said "Sorry, m'lud, but my partner ran off with all the money", ...
a) would the court/police make efforts to pursue the abscondee?
b) what would be the consequences for the bankrupt person, in this case, Gough?