Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-10-30
AFFAIRE D'AMOUR
Which ParaIyzed the GOsslps Of
Consstoga, NY. - l.
A Wealthy Corn Gamer EIOpes to South
America with One of His Factory
Girls, Leaving His Wife
in the lurch.
SOME OTHER CURRENT RAscALlTIEs.

SYRACUSE, n. y, October 99.-The report
that J. Wallace Mix, wealthy Conestoga
corn canner has eloped to South America
with one of his factory girls, leaving his
wife and $4,000 liabilities, now seems 70
be undoubted. His disappearance causes
great excitement in the village, where
many Of his hands are left with unpaid
wages ranging from sl5 to SO and also
throughout all central New York, where
both had acquaintance His creditors are
almost without number.
Mr.. Mix commenced business in Camden.
His goods soon became. popular in the
market, and he established good reputa-
tion throughout all the central and western
part of the State. While In Camden ne
,.----I Irdplged dHiALnxnrisusHs Hssees''->-
to the fullest extent, and soon became
recognized as a prince among his fellows.
His family consisted OF vile ana one
child, to both OF whom he appeared devot-
edly attached. All went merry as a mar
riage bell, and success seemed to attend his
eyery venture. A year or two ago he re-
moved his canning establishment to Cones
toga. The authorities at that place were so
anxious for his coming that they made
very advantageous concessions rs an in
ducenent. He was one of the first TO de-
yelop the corn.canning industry, and gave
emplovment TO l35 hands. Among the
other workers in his establishment was
fair young girl named Maggie Higgins.
The lass was noted for her beauty, and 1t
was not long before
The Corn.Cannsrs' Heart
was made prisoner by his pretty enploye.
He became so infatuated with her that he
could not conceal his passion, and 1t soon
became food for the village gossips, who
preached il with such success that 1T soon
became town talk. As his love for his in
amorata deepened he plunged deeper into
the pleasures of life, and became more and
more regardless of his business interests.
Maggie Higgins was remarkably striking
brunette, and unusually intelligent for oAe
of her rank in life. Mix gratited the
Girls Taste for Fine Feathers,
and she was soon acknowledged the best
clad maiden in the town. AS the outside
world became more and more familiar with
the story of his amour, his attentions to
his protege were unham pered by any ef-
fort at ConCealment and it is said that his
wife was cognizant of the affair, but rather
than give rise to a scandal resolved To win
him back by kindness. The effort seems
to have proven of no avail, and shortly be-
fore his disappearance he told number OF
persons he loved Maggie Higgins better
than any woman in the world, and added
If he was thousand miles away with her
he would be
The Happiest Man In the USiverSe.
'If you wake up some fine morning" said
he To friend, ''and find me gone, you need
not be surprised" Some weeks ago 1t be-
gan TO be whispered that MiX's extravagant
living had sadly impaired his finances, but
no one seems to have dreamed of the posi-
bihty of a failure. On Saturday last Mix
sent Geo. II. Abbott, his partner, on bust
ness to Utica, this city, and elsewhere, to
collect outstanding accounts of merchants
in these places. Some 5000 or 5000 re-
suited from collections, and Mix drew in
addition to this $500 from his bankers in
Rome. Added to this he had quite a sum
OF money in his safe, and it is safe to say
he had in his possession Saturday night
$l5, 600 or $4,000. Abbott went away Sat-
urday night, and remained over Sunday.
On his return he found the village in state
of excitement. Before leaving, Mix paid
only few of his employees, and in addition
to these he left many farmers with
Unpaid Bills
for corn. Two farmers holding bills Of this
description are victims to the extent of
500 each, and innumerable similar ac-
counts in less amounts. The total liabili-
ties of this nature aggregates $1,000 Cohen
Il Co, manufacturers, are creditors to the
extent of 81 600. They have levied on the
cans in Mix's establishment, for which
they had arbill of sale, 1t is safe to assume
that bis total liabilities are over $4,000
Mix told man in Conestota, not long ago,
that in less than a month he would be in
South America. He seemed 10 be thinking
of Maggie Higgins all the time, and she
accompanied him in his flight His action
will result ia loss Of farms to Struggling
farmers in TWO or three instances, who we're
depending on money due them from nix
to meet mortgage obligations. His en-
ployes are also sufferers 10 the extent OF
several hundred dollars, and there Us great
distress in consequence. No clew to the
whereabouts of the fleeing lovers is re-
ported.