The daily gazette., 1881-07-27
cHALLYNaE nErRIGERATon.
sudden stop In iss Mauafueturs
~ the Conpnny Going Into the

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In the U. y. District Court yesterday
VIM. q. Spruance, ESQ.,, made applica-
lion for the closing Of the works Of II.
NJ. Digglns Il Co., manufacturers of the
Challenge Refrigerator, and the appoint
ment Of receiver. Judge Bradford
granted the application and appointed
VIM. N. Candy receiver, after which the
works were closed by U. s. Marshal
McMullen.
The Hrm ofH. M. Diggins & Co. was
organized In Baltimore last winter by
Diggins and Q man named Craig, who
took into partnership with them a Mr..
Hughes, Of BaltlmOre, who proved to be
the chief financial prop Of the concern.
Hughes wife owned In her own right a
house In Baltimore and farm near the
city, the latter being their chief support.
On the representations of Diggins
and Craig she mortgaged the b use
and farm and put 30, 900 into the con-
cern, taking the firms paper ~ securi-
ty. With this capital the works were
etarsed in the Hunsberger building,
Wrter and Market streets, this city,
Diggins and Craig managing the bust
ness here. while Hughes attended to
selling refrigerators in Baltimore.
The firm, meanwhile, drew on Hughes
for further g ians' al sur plies, until his
interest In the concern amounted to
about $4,000. Recently, becoming
satisfied that things were not going on
sm. ,thly, he came to Wilmington and
q al al nNuu;uo and Nra;o 70 ,z;n1 ,,r
the affairs Of the Company, and upon
their refusal applied to the Court, with
the result above stated. The neces-
sary papers were at once served upon
Mr.. Diggins and Mr.. Candy took for
NAL possession of the Company's Office
and works.
Early in the afternoon, Mr.. DiggiDs
requested Mr.. Candy to stay proceed
ings until . o'clock, by which time his
counsel, Mr.. Nields, would be present.
The latter had not arrived up to $50
O'Clock, and meanwhile Mr.. Diggins
stepped ont for q few minutes, on a
slight pretext, and summoning a COL
ored boy to his assistance, removed
three rcfrigerators TO the Office of
Walter Tatnall adjoining, Mr.. Tatnall
then being absent at dinner. Mr..
Diggins returned to the Office soon af-
ter, and announced that he would wait
no longer for Mr.. Nields, whereupon
MIR. Candy closed the works and put
watchman In charge. Later he heard
Of Diggins' removal of the three re-
frigerators, and caused them to be
taken back. The workmen about the
building were discharged. Only seven
were on duty yesterday, the balance
having become suspicious over a week
ago and sought other situations.
The liabilities of the conce. u are un-
known, but are supposed to be quite
extensive. About forty refrieerators,
with some materials, Office furniture,
form all the available assets.
Great sympathy is felt for Mr.. Hughes
who is evidently well-meaniDg thor
oughly honest man. His wife invested
what would have been their support, for
the balance Of their years, in tile hope
that 1t would return handsome remun-
eration, but the failure of the concern
blasts their hopes and leaves them In q
sad plight. Mr.. Hughes seems COM
pletely broken down by his misfortune.
Dlggins and Craig lived very stylish
ly In this city, the former In the Clay
ton House and the latter at boarding
house ON the Delaware Avenue.
Recently several exccuti DDS upon the
firms property, issued on judgments. Civ
en- against Diggins aud Craig indlvidu-
ally were satisfied, but the receiver will
probably make the parties for whom
these judgments were issued to refund
tho amounts received.