, 1877-09-09
FRANK LESLIE.
This WelI-Known Publisher Forced te
Make an Assignment.
The General Shrinkage Of Values the
Cause Of His Embarrassment
His Various Publications WIN
Be Issued as Usual.

Special Dispatch to The Tribune.
New YoKK, Sept. S.--Frank Leslie. the we'll
known publisher of newspapers, periodicals
miscellaneous pamphlets, etc, has made Al
assignment OF his property for the benefit O.
his creditors to-day. Isaac ". England,
gentleman of experience in the publishing o
newspapers, and at present connected Will
the Sun, is the Assignee, and will
conduct the business OF Mr.. Lcslie's establish
ment. The liabilities are put at S3o0,000. II
seems that Mr. Leslie came into town from hts
country residence at Saratoga 4 few days ago
and made the assignment then, though it vas
not placed On l!e till to-day.
4 gentleman acting as Mr.. Eng1and's agent Is
in Charge Of Mr.. Lcsle's establishment, but Mr.
England Is expected to assume the personal
management Of the business on Monday. The
men employed in Mr.. Les1ie's establishment,
numbering about 300, arc being
PAID THEIR WAGES AS CsuAL,
and the business will be carried on in the same
manner under the Assignee As it was under sir.
Leslie. The periodicals and other publications
will appear at the appointed times.
The Times says: Rumors have been ii circn1a-
tion for some months affecting the solvency- -oi
.sir. Leslie, but that gentleman, Wien qucs-
toned in regard to them, has always denied
their truth, and his friends have attributed
their origin to a person with whom he Is In
litigation. Mr.. Leslie was visited by q Time,
reporter over six months ago and qucs-
toned about such rumors. He said
smilingly that il his income we're
reduced about sl0o,0 per year there might be
some possibility Of his becoming insolvent.
Lately, however, he
HAS BEEN GREATLY PRESSED
By one or two creditors. and the assignment
was made TO avoid an attachment or execution
against his property from such clamor-
GUS creditors. His son, s. Leon Leslie,
admitted to-day that his father is
hard pressed for money, but said that it was 10
great measure due to the fact that all his means
are invested in the presses and other property
necessary in the conduct OF his business. The
large shrinka9c In real-estate values was anoth-
er cause, inasmuc11 IS some OF his transactions
In this line have
RESULTED DlsASTROCsLF.
Another reason for the lack OF money Is that
Mr. Leslie has large number OF promissorT
notes which he finds it difficult to col1cct.
There has also been a falling of in the income
from number Of the periodicals. The
principal ones are said to hold their
own very well considering the times; but
the publication Of some OF the minor ones IS
kept up rather rs matter OF pride th2u BE-
cause they are paying. Mr.. Leslie, Jr., said he
could give no estimate OF the assets or liab:1i-
ties a5 get, but be. had no doubt the assets
would
PAR EXCEED THE LIABILITIES.
In the way Of assets one OF the principal items
is the stock Of presses. tue value Of which is set
down at $500, 900. One press alone, with the
i'm Tnafa
Mr.. Leslie said he believes his father owns no
real estate whatever in this city, bllt ownS- his
country seat at Saratoga, known as lnterlaken.
The issuing OF the historical register OF the
the features connected with the eanvassing for
the work. was q source Of loss not only OF
money, but al*o in the circulation and income
derived from lis periodicals. Mr.. Leslie has
brought suit against William ". Weigley,
Il Mou 5a6n II. Forusy, sSa'oa" oa account sa 'a q
the alleged damagc which was caused bv the
distribution Of souvenirs to his subscribers,
the souvenirs not being furnished as agreed. Dor
we're they what they were represented. During
clerks allowed him to be run into debt over
S3,500 for these affairs, which lost many sub
scribers.
Mr.. Leslie has been IN the publishing business
publications being what is now called the LGdy's
journal. Besides that be issnes the Iliustrut-
e Newspaper, Illustrated zeitnng, Illustrated
Ti.nes, BoVs' and Girls Vee1tu, Chimney Corner,
Sunday -ldgu-ine, LadY's ;Nagazins, Budget Of
Fan, Jolly JOKER Pleasant Hours, Boys Of liner
iea, Popular -Nonthly, Idle Hours, Illustrated
end comic almanacs, home and popular
libraries, the "Chimney Corner" series Of
novels, number OF comic books, and many
holiday and miscellaneous pamphlet publica-
tions. One large building and portions Of
several other buildings are
DEVOTED TO HIS RCsINESs.
The main publication office is at No. 537 Pearl
street, which IS d large five-story building, and
contains, besides the offices, large prcss-room,
editorial and composing rooms, library, etc.
The upper portion Of the Ninth National Bank
Building ia Broadway is devoted to the
storage OF the wood cuts, which have been ac-
cumulatlnG for more than twenty-five years,
aud which are said to represent
An OUTLAY. OF OVER 1.0o0, Co.,
4 large fye-story brick building is nov
In course Of erection, Just opposite the
main Office. In this new building it
was intended that the articles scattered through
the different buildings outside Of the main one
should be collected together. The intention
was to occupy the new building about the be-
ginning Of October. This intention has not
been abandoned, and the business will undoubt-
edly be continued as usual.