Separation: Benjamin Wheeler and wife, 1908

Context Note: Nevertheless, he appears to have remained at 133 Park Road until 1914 when he took the S.S. Lusitania from Liverpool to New York – ending up at Stratford, Connecticut, whence he never came back.

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ASTON POLICE COURT.

MONDAY. – Before Alderman W. Evans (chairman), Alderman S. Edwards, Alderman F. Smith, and Mr. H. S. Yoxall.

Separated.

Ellen Susan Rhoda Wheeler, of 133, Park Road, Aston, summoned her husband Benjamin Wheeler, for persistent cruelty, and she asked the magistrates to grant her a separation order. – Mr. A. H. Adcock appeared on behalf of the complainant who stated that they had been married 24 years and there were four children, the eldest [Ada (Wheeler) Bosworth] being 22 years of age. Defendant had been frequently before the Court for assault and other offences. On Thursday last he turned the two younger children [Benjamin Wheeler (1893-1978) and William Henry Lingard Wheeler] out of the house, and when remonstrated with threatened to put his wife out, and subsequently assaulted her. He had often abused her before. – P.C. Rainbow deposed to being called to the house on Thursday, when he saw the defendant, who was drunk and threatening his wife. – The Bench made an order of separation with 5s. per week maintenance.

(Erdington News, Birmingham, 1st February 1908)

Engagement of Malcolm Wheeler

Engagements

WHEELER-PREEDY. – The engagement is announced between Malcolm Bruce, elder son of Mr. and Mrs. B. V. L. Wheeler, of King’s Heath, and Sheila, only daughter of the late Mr. R. A. Preedy and of Mrs. E. L. Preedy, of Four Oaks, Warwickshire.

(Birmingham Daily Post, 31st October 1950)

Filing for bankrutpcy

SALESMAN FILES.

ASSIGNEE NOT SATISFIED WITH POSITION.

Benjamin Wheeler, a salesman, of 64 Keppel street, New Brighton, met his creditors before the District Official Assignee (Mr J. H. Robertson) yesterday morning. After an examination of his position, the Assignee said that he was not altogether satisfied, and adjourned the case to permit of further investigation. In the meantime, Wheeler would not be allowed to leave New Zealand without permission.

The amount owing to unsecured creditors was £243 7s 9d, and the sole assets were furniture valued at £20, leaving a deficiency of £223 7s 9d. In his sworn statement, bankrupt said that he came to the Dominion in March, 1927, from Birmingham, and had lived in Christchurch since then. He had been employed as a salesman with two furnishing companies in Christchurch, but they had both filed in bankruptcy.

About August, 1928, he bought a stock of hosiery with which he canvassed the suburbs, and he continued with this occupation until about one month ago. After paying cash for all goods purchased for a year he started to incur monthly accounts. From August, 1928, he did not think he had averaged more than 30s a week, and he had been compelled on occasions to seek assistance from the Charitable Aid Board and the Returned Soldiers’ Association.

Bankrupt had an interest in the will of his late mother from which he was to receive £520, and from which he received £5 a month for the first two years. In September last the time for distribution arrived, and he instructed his brother to collect the balance of £400 for him, when his brother collected he claimed it on account of a debt due to him by bankrupt, so bankrupt received nothing. He was relying on this sum of £400 to pay his creditors.

Cross-examined, bankrupt stated that he had been in America, from 1916 to 1925 selling vacuum cleaners, at times making up to £12 a week. The New Zealand climate did not suit him, and he had always wanted to return to England.

In reply to a creditor, he denied that when he had renewed his credit he had represented that £400 was coming to him from England. He thought that relations would help him to return to England, but they would have nothing to do with his debts. HE had no money there that he could use when he returned.

The Official Assignee said that the creditors had better place a sum of money at his disposal, and he would instruct a firm of solicitors in England to look into the matter.

Bankrupt is a married man with three young children.

(Press, New Zealand, 19th March 1932)

Organisers of concerts wanted

CHRISTMAS TREE FUND.

ORGANISERS OF CONCERTS WANTED.

A large number of vocalists, instrumentalists, and other entertainers have generously offered to give their services on behalf of the Fund, with the object of augmenting the contributions by promoting concerts and other entertainments. Unfortunately, though we very highly appreciate the kindness of these volunteers, and realise that considerable benefit would accrue to the Fund if their services were utilised, we are not in a position to take an active part in the organisation of such entertainments. In the hope that there may be amongst our readers some who are willing to help us in the promotion of entertainments on behalf of the Fund we append a list of ladies and gentlemen who have offered to contribute to the programmes, provided that the use of suitable buildings can be obtained:-

[…]

Comedy Concert Company; manager, Mr. Bruce V. L. Wheeler, Park Road, Aston.

(Birmingham Daily Mail, 6th December 1907)

Pearl button makers

BIRMINGHAM BUTTONS

Sir, – Referring to your article on the above; the pearl button industry was truly “Birmingham Home” originally, and I remember the Japanese first attempt to produce them. They came on the market in a very crude state, but in a short time were perfected to the extent that they captured our own markets. Small buttons, 16 lines, were sold to the trade at about 4s. 6d. for 4½ gross; our first process in those days cost 5s. 3½d. for cutting. So we were thrown out of even home markets.

It is wrong to say we are one of the foremost world suppliers, as there are only a handful of manufacturers now in Birmingham and the country generally, compared with 40 to 50 years ago when Birmingham was the home of the industry; it is just a matter of one of our lost industries.

BRUCE V. L. WHEELER

127, Woodthorpe Road, King’s Heath, Birmingham 14.

(Birmingham Daily Post, 1st June 1950)

Musicians wanted

DANCING, MUSIC, &c.

AMATEUR Artistes (experienced) Wanted, instrumentalist, also Pianist, for troupe. – Write, Bruce V. Wheeler, Park Rd., Aston.

(Birmingham Mail, 14th November 1908)

Bankrupt, 1931

THE BANKRUPTCY ACTS, 1914 AND 1926.

RECEIVING ORDERS.

No. 2,968. WHEELER, Bruce Vernon Leopold, residing at 322, Alcester Road South, Kings Heath, in the city of Birmingham, and carrying on business at Rose Works, Park Road, Aston, in the said city, as a PEARL BUTTON AND STUD MANUFACTURER, under the name or style of “WHEELER BROTHERS.”

Court – BIRMINGHAM.

Date of Filing Petition – Sept. 1, 1931.

No. of Matter – 75 of 1931.

Date of Receiving Order – Sept. 1, 1931.

No. of Receiving Order – 48.

Whether Debtor’s or Creditor’s Petition – Debtor’s.

(London Gazette, 4th September 1931)

An alleged running-down case

AN ALLEGED RUNNING-DOWN CASE. – At Hales Owen, yesterday, Benjamin Wheeler, of Aston, was charged with furious driving at Quinton, on the 18th of May. Evidence was given by three witnesses that the defendant was driving a horse and a light trap at a rate of ten or twelve miles an hour, and that he ran into an omnibus driven by a man named Evans, Mrs. Wheeler [Ellen Susan Rhoda (Wallbank) Wheeler] being thrown out of the trap. The Bench held there was not sufficient evidence to convict, and the case was dismissed. Defendant said he shouted to Evans when he was fifty yards away, but he would not turn aside, the result being that his (defendant’s) wife and two children [Nellie Ada Lawton (Wheeler) Bosworth and Bruce Vernon Leopold Wheeler] were severely injured by the collision. He intended to enter an action for damages, and asked the Bench for their opinion, which, however, they declined to give.

(Birmingham Daily Post, 3rd June 1891)