The New York herald., 1873-12-18

JACOB OBERHOLSER SAMUEL KEEFER
OBERHOLSER Il KEEFER,
IMPORTERS AND JOBBkRS OF
FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC
WOOIIENS
s27, 329 and 33l Broadway, New York.


VISIT TO THE ESTABLISHMENT
showed that the firm In question occupied very ex-
tensive and imposing premises at the before men,
toned numbers on Broadway. mere glimpse at
the interior aspect OF affairs showed that the situ-
alton was gloomy in the extreme.
IN ONE CORNER
OF the establishment, nearest Broadway, sat some
five or six individuals, with rueful c0untenances
dently suffered in some way from the failure and
looked correspondngiy uncommunicative. There
was one. however, who maintained his self-pos-
session and seemingly natural pollteness
In reply to question OF the HERALD reporter
the gentleman IN question said that Messrs Obcr-
hOser & Keefer, the principals OF the lrm, had
just gone to attend a meeting Of the creditors.
Careful investigation In regard TO
THE BANKRUPT FIRM
elected the following facts The original firm was
that OF G. w. G. w. Moore. house which had an
honorable reputation. They were succeeded by
principal in the now bankrupt firm. When Mr..
Ely withdrew the house was reorganized under the
toned partnership began two years ago with q
special capital of $15o,000, to which alleged gen.
eral partners added $4,000 It is alleged led tnat @
Oberholser on his own statement having advanced
nothing to the new firm because he had had
special relations with Worthington aud assumed
part OF his liabilities TO the firm OF Ely Oberhoser.
TO the capital stock OF $780, the general partners
OF the newly organized house of Oberholser Keeler
added $4,000 They admit having Gone on this
impaired capital OF $500, 900 business OF between
$2.ooo.o0o and S3,eoo,ooo year.
is said by the principals OF the firm to be owing TO
the panic and consequent shrinkage of values. Tney
claim that the number Of their merchandise credi-
tors is about $50, chiefly commission houses ana
importers The foreign Indebtedness is small, the
firm having done mainly Jobbing business.
AN INTERVIEW WITH THE HEAD OF THE FIRM.
Mr.. Oberholser, the head OF the firm, lives at No.
SO Orange street, Brooklyn, in modest two story
and basement frame house which has the consola-
ton OF being only two doors from Mr.. Beecher's
church. HERALD reporter called at Mr. Ober-
holsers house last evening to get his statement in
n n
firm looked serene The word failure" could not
be read in a lineament oil his countenance. He
looked tOlera5ly satisfied and by no means un-
happy. He was evidently on his guard as to the
manner in which he should answer the very simple
questions relating to the status OF the bankrupt
firm, It's antecedents and way Of doing business.
WHAT oBERHoLSER ADMITTED.
oberholser Is tai, dark somp!eXloned man,
ready IN answering questions. He admitted how
ever, the following instructive particulars THE
house began to realize several weeks ago that 1t
was in very ticklisn position. Towards the end
OF last week matters began to come rapidly to the
dlsagreeable focus OF the failure Of the respectable
Mr.. ObernOser went to i've o. has most extensive
submitted statement OF the Indebtedness OF the
house Of Oberholser Keefer. The committee was
appointed and statement placed in their hands.
All this took place on MONDAY last. The matter
was kept very quiet. In fact, as Mr.. Oberhoser
cerned only his firm and his creditors, and they did
not want the general public to know anything
ABOUT the failure. yesterday, however, some OF
the notes OF Oberhoscr 4 Keefer were protested,
and the cat being out OF the bag the general
public" could not very well be kept longer III the
dark.
Mr.. Page or the firm OF Falkner, Page & Co., was
appointed chairman OF the committee OF five.
This committee has not been empowered by the
majority OF the creditors to settle up the Liabilities
OF Oberhoser & Keefer. No general meeting OF
creditors has yet been held.
Mr.. OberholSer said last evening that he Is from
Akron, Ohio and that he made most OF his money
there KeeIer is from Indiana, but has been in
business in New York Tor a considerable time. He
was at one time member OF the firm Of Bradley,
Keefer Weer Il Co., and subsequently OF the
house OF Edison, Bradley Co., joDbers In WOOL
lens who failed the 10th inst, with liabilities OF
$I50000.
About year and a half ago
VERY UNPLEASANT RUMORS
were rife In regard to two fires which occurred In
one month at the establishment OF Oberholser l.
Keeler.
Mr.. Oberholser says that when the panic began
their liabilities were from 100000 to 5000, 900, and
their surplus s160, 900 TO $4,000 The fire which
occurred on the 27th OF April caused, Mr. Oberhol-
ser states, so much damage that the house was un-
able to resume business until the Goth Of August.
He admits that he was fully covered by insurance;
but alleges that his force OF about 20 men, having
been engaged by the year, had to be paid full
salaries between the day OF the nre and the re-
sumption OF business