Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1886-06-01
MYSTERIOUS DEPARTURE.

Messrs. X T.. Lee and Z. Blanchard, en-
gagged in the fruit business on the corner of
Douglas and Emporia avenues, under the
name of Lee & Co., have not been seen in
the city since last Saturday night. All
those acquainted with the affair say they
have disappeared under very suspicious cir
| cumstances
They have been engaged in the city about
three weeks selling fruits and produce on
commission for some st. Louis and Kansas
City companies. They have been very sue
cessful in building up trade, and this, it
is claimed. they did at the expense Of selling
below actual cost.
A certain establishment in the city bought
S5i9 worth of lemons from them, and one
of the proprietors told an EAGLE reporter
yesterday that he was confident on buying
them that they got them for less than the
actual cost. This he considered looked sus-
pcious in itself and last Saturday evening
about o'clock one of the firm called to col
lect the bill The book keeper WAS not
present at the time and before leaving had
locked the safe and carried the keys off in
his pocket. Mr.. Lee seemed TO be over
anxious for his money, and one Of the men,
bers of the firm gave him a check for the
money, which he Immediately took to one
| of the banks of the city and had it certified
SO it would be collectable anywhere. He
said bis great haste in the
matter was because he wanted to
pay for car load of oranges and two car
loads of potatoes then at the depot
Yesterday morning came and the reporter
is informed that the Kansas City firm who
owns the car load of oranges was notified
of the suspicious absence of the two MEM
bers of the firm and they telegrsphed to
hold the load until they could send a man
| to look the matter over and determine what
is best to do. About one hundred bushels
of potatoes were sold yesterday by the
| clerks
The two members of the firm have been
boarding at the City hotel, and they leave
without paying their entire bill. 1t is
thought, however, that they do not owe very
much elswhere in the city.
An EAGLE reporter called last evening at
the office OF the mercantile agency and
found that one of the members of the COM
pany had spent most of the day looking the
matter up but was not prepared to say pos
itively that the parties had skipped with
intent to defraud, but like everyone else he
heard speak about it, thought that the affair
looked suspicious to say the least
Some parties claim that Mr.. Lee told
them some days since that he had invested
largely in real estate but since this myster-
ious absence it has been found that he paid
small amount only to hold certain prop
erty for a certain number of days. This is
translated by some as a blind. 1t is also
claimed that gentleman asked Mr.. Lee
some days since how he could afford to sell his
merchandise below cost and he replied that
he was compelled to in order TO be ready 20
sell the fruit and produce he had already
ordered.
Some acquainted with the workings of the
firm claim that they were to settle with the
companies they were working for at the first
of every month and that last week they col
lected all money coming to them in order
as they claimed TO pay off.
Some of their clerks are reported to have
said they believe them to be away on few
days rest and will return by and by and
everything will be all right, but they claim
10 know nothing positive about them.
The amount they hsve succeeded in
capturing, provided the affair is as bad as j:
appears on its face, is not definitely known
but one thing is certain that If they have not
piid their companies an, thing, it is not
short Of several hundred dollars if not thous-
ands. The amounts they have been selling
have attracted the attention of quite a num-
Der and il has been talked of considerable.