Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1888-11-29
WALrBE aoorH,s BuIoBr.
Financial difficulties Induce N
Chester County Trader TO Cut and

I Chester County Trader TO Cut ana
Hum
Phi. delphis Record, Saturday.
! The flight of Walter .. Booth Of West
4 Grove, Pa, one of the most widely known
4 Young business men of lower Chester
| county, leaving behind him nearly Sl4,-
| 600 in unsecured debta and some forged
| notes, has created a WidaspreGd sensation
in the county. The most distressing fea-
ture of the reckless young mans esca-
pRde is that he has spent all OF the small
fortune Of his aged mother.
Booth left West Grove on Monday,
November 18th, taking the trein for
Philadelphia, where he was laet seen il q
Chestnut street store. A warrant for his
/ arrest upon the charge of forging the
name of Charles MelFadden of West
Grove has since been issued, but the
chances for his capture ore very remote.
He wore a cunning suit when he left
West Grove, but changed that in this city
for new suit, which he purchased on
credit at John Wanamaker's store.
It IL estimated that Booths total Iiabil-
tiles will amount to 600, of which
! $6. 500 ig sercured by a mortgage on q
| farm near West Grove owned by him.
About So, goo which he owed to the bank
at Oxford on notes discounted there was
secured by the sale Of his personal prop
erty on Thursday upon Judgment con-
feased by him to the bank.
| The Endorsements upon some OF the
notes held by the bank have been found
to be foTgeries, but as the bank officials
and Booths other creditors are extremely
reticont, it il impossible to estimate how
much money he secured by the Illegal uss
of his frienda' names. Nearly all OF the
money WAS lost in business, Booth having
but few hundred dollars with him when
he went away. His largest unsecured
creditor is j. a. Wallace, farmer, resid-
ing near West Grove, who Endorsed his
Paper for 81, 0G0. The losses of the
other creditors will range from 800 to
| $500 each, and it is said that there are
few business men in West Grove who
have not Suffered roore or less by his
failure and flight.
Booth is about So years of age, and
was born on his fathers farm, "a few miles
! from West Grove. He has been for
years favorise in the best sociai circles,
and was one Of the most popular business
men in lower Chester county. A few
years ago he sold the homestead, in which
his widowed mother hRd an interest,
which she signed away 10 help him in
business, and moved TO West Grove, where
he engaged extensively in buying and
selling stock, cGrriagea and farming
machinery. BE did a lhrgs blsiness, but
4 apparently with little profit, and his dSbte
consist chiefly OF notes which were in
dorsed by his friends, and business 60
quaintauces-
Booths big stock sales at West Grove
always attracted large crowds, and bis
dinners at West Grove Inn to his friends
and customers were famous the eo1ntgy
over. A year ago he bought back his
farm and moved TO the country again,
making the farm the headquarters for his
business in farming implements. Booths
financial condition has been considered
shaky by shEewd business men for some
time. The bank ct Kennett Square re-
fused to negotiate his paper, aud the
Oxford bank three weeks ago compelled
him to give it Judgment of $4,000 as
collateral for discounted notes. The
entering up Of this judgment and the
issuing Of an execution against his per-
sonhl property by the bank under which.
the sale was made on Thursday brought
his affairs to crisis. The sale Ia said to
have realised sbout S., 500, which will
cover ell his obligations at the bank, aud
it is hoped will leave small sue
plus. His farm is mortgsged TO its frii
value of SIS, 500. One OF the mortgage
was recorded few weeks ago. THIS
was for "a, 500, and is held by his father
in-law, Samuel Chandler OF Kennugt
Square.
Evidently Booths flight was prsmeaI,
tated, although fastened by inklinss
that charge OF forgery was TO be made
against him. After the sheriff's levy hnd
| kaar. ia ng. M AL a..
Booth took two Of the horses from The
etable and traded them in Wilmington,
. obtaining $3.50 in cash. The ho,scq
have since been replevined by the sherig /.
This money and few hundred dolIais
in addition was all that the fugitive cRp-
} ried away with him. Re had credit at
John Wnnamaker's store, of which he
made uas upon his arrival in Philadelphia
to the extent Of about $500.
Among the numerous creditors in West
Grove who mourn the disappearance Of
Booth and the loss sustained by them are:
CHARLES McFGdden, $500; John II. Turner,
$500; j. 8. Cooas, $500, and Thomas p.
Ccnard, $3.50. Mr.. McFaddsu says shat
his name was also forged to other notes
in addition to that upon which thalwar-
rant was issrsd, notice Of protest of ssv-
eral olhers having been received from the
bank Of Oxford, ETlt 3rG ID
Young Booths lnisfoftunes arc usually
attributed to bad business transactions.
i7a has never been drinking man and,
until the facts CONNECTED with tho failure
came out, has been regarded as an honest
man. Some years ago he married Miss
Laura Chandler, the daughter of Samuel
Chandler, q gentleman of meang residing
in West Grove. He had bsen previously
married to niece OF Charles 8. Catftey,
The Camden carriage manufacturer.