John Edward Charles Carr: Designer, Stained Glass Artist, Art Metalworker …… Bankrupt?
Whilst looking for further information about John Carr (see the who’s who in The Arts and Crafts Movement in the North West) we came across this item which helps clear some of the mist surrounding Carr’s sojourne in Manchester. Can anyone say how he came to be in Willesden working as a stained glass designer “on his own account” in 1901? Better still, who was he working for in Watford, Herts in 1911 where the census describes him as a designer and manager as well as an art metalworker.
Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser 10th January 1899.
FAILURE OF A DESIGNER.
Mr. John Edward Charles Carr, of Stockport road, Longsight, was publicly examined by Mr. Dibb, the Official Receiver in Bankruptcy. The debtor described himself as a designer and craftsman in the applied arts. He said he came to Manchester in March 1897, and commenced business here. Previously he was in the employ of a firm at Glasgow at a salary of £3 a week. He had no capital, but he was induced to come to Manchester by some of the leading architects of this city who had seen his work.
Mr Dibb: I understand you are a splendid artist in your work, but that you are not a very good business man. Is that putting it fairly?
The Debtor: Possibly so. The debtor further stated that his accounts showed a deficiency of £1,445 on liabilities amounting to £1,621. He was insolvent through “bad management. Want of capital, dishonesty of an employe (sic), and dereliction of duty on the part of employes (sic).” The bad management was on his own part owing to want of capital. An employe (sic) robbed him of £25, and other employes (sic) neglected their duties by getting drunk and in other ways when they were supposed to be watching his interest outside. His trade liabilities were only £260, and the remainder of his liabilities were represented principally by about £1,100, which he owed to friends who had financed him.
Mr Rylands (Messrs Boote and Edgar), who appeared for the debtor, said the private creditors had been willing to stand aside in order that the trade creditors might receive a dividend, but one of the trade creditors had refused to accept such an arrangement. Now it was impossible to carry out a scheme of the kind because a portion of the assets had been sold by auction
Mr Dibb said the case was just one in which he would like the bankruptcy to be annulled, and if a scheme were put forward it would be proper to annul it. That was, however, a matter for the debtor.
The examination was adjourned to the 30th Inst,. Certain accounts to be filed in the meantime.