St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-02-25
A Question Frequently Asked
of Late by Numerous st.
Paul Men.
Having Run the Length Of His
Tether, Wheat Seeks Fresh
Fields.
The German-Amepican Bank
Mourns His Absence About :.
$4,000 Worth.

Preparations Tor the Ue01ca-
ton of the Turnverein So
ciety's New Home.
Harry l.. Wheat, the Wabasha street
crockery man, who assigned Feb. 10,
left the city that evening. and, it is said,
will never return. As result of this
idiosyncracy. numerous creditors are
left high and dry, among them the
German-American bank, which is out
$1,000 as result of oyer-confi-
dence- in human nature. The
schedule of assets and liabili-
ties has not yet been filed,
but al the time of Wheat's fnan-
cial trouble men who were in posi-
tion to know estimated that his stock
was worth $4,000, although no one
could tell who his credIttrs were.
Wheat's father is a wealthy capitalist
at Wheeling, W. Va, and about three
years ago turned his sons face toward
the setting sun, and instructed him TO
go ahead and accumulate a goodly
share of this worlds treasures. Acting
in accordance with paternal inStruc-
tiOns. the young man came to st. Paul
and opened a wholesale and retail
crockery store on WabaSha street. adj
Joining the Astoria hotel. His father
bought the stock for him and equipped
his place of business, but young Wheat
had been in the city but short while
before he demonstrated that he cared
frsp kha frrI,+ ctr rf- ai4
for place i'll the front rank of CON-
mercial men.
Wheat became rounder of the most
pronounced type. and in few months
was familiar figure in the sample
rooms and other places Of public and
fashionable resort of more shady hue.
He was discreet. however, and his init
mates, men about town and others who
would ask no questions regarding
mans private life, were the only per-
sons who knew that the young man was
probably
LIVING BEYOND HIS MEANS.
Bnt 1t was impossible to ward off
ugly rumors for any great length of
time, and before score of mouths had
passed away, reports of his career after
the shutters had been put up at the
WabaSha street store, reached the ears
of the staid men of business with whom
the young merchant had business rela-
lions. +
As result of these rumors investiga-
ton speedily showed that Wheat was
squandering his profits, if indeed he
was not frittening away his principal.
But his father being wealthy man, no
immediate uneaSineSs was felt, until as
time went on and his outstanding obi
n
began to press him, and his father was
several times called upon to unlock the
ancestral strong box, and sent large
roll westward, where it was speedily
eaten up by rapaeiOus creditors. But
about year ago the affairs of young
Wheat became so badly entangled that
AN ASSIGNMENT SEEMED IMMINENT,
and would have been made had not the
| Wheeling capitaliStopportunely come to
! the reScne in hehaif of his son. -
l. "A Well-knOWn man about town, who
was Intimately acquainted with Wheat.
said last evening: "He was very
liberal Spender, and seemingly did not
know the va1ue of money. If he took a
fancy to girl he would spend $1,000, if
such an amount were necesSary,in order
to ingratiate himself in her favor, and
he dropped a goodly pile OF the long
the green cloth. His father has pulled
him out of innumerable: scrapes, but
understand that when he was in trouble
last year, Wheat pere said he would
never help him again, and | am in
iclined to think he will keep his word"
When Wheat came to st. Paul he
brought his wife with him. and it was
but short while before the gossipS be-
gan to look wise, and aver that Mrs.
Wheat was desperate fiirt, to which
practice her husband seriously OBJ
jected. ~
About year ago the twain came to
the Clifton hotel to board, and were, to
all outward appearances, an exemplary
couple. They would rarely come into
the dining room together, however, but
after Mrs. Wheat had reached the fish
stage of the banquet her lord and mas
ter would come in, order his consonilne,
gain lap pass his wife at the entrees
and finish an easy winner. leaving
Mrs. Wheat to sip her cafe
.nor at her leisure. This apparent
| GOODNESS was taken as substantial evil
at ached to each other. At this time
Wheat was leading steadier life than
before, but at intervals would slip
cog and run wild untif he pulled up at
the hotel desk when early morning was
lingering in the lap of blight. He was
man of good address. a.pialisibie taiker,
and had little trouble in assuring all
inqurers of his financial claims. About
two years ago he opened an account
at the German-Amerfcan bank, and
shortly after he became a -depositor be-
gan to borrow money in homeopathic
doses. inst what security he gave, if
any, is not ascertainable, as the officials
| of the bank are reticent about impart-
ing information. He also succeeded in
getting into the strong box of various
local firms, while his individual debts
will aggregate considerable amount.
The bank is, however, the heaviest
loser, and inferentially it may be stated
that the German-AmeFiean people were
instrumental in closing up the business,
as he was credited with s., 200 on their
| books, and exhibited no substantial. in
dicaton of being athletic cancel the OBJ
! legation. 80 =.
Wheat undoubtedly realized the des-
| perate strait he was in. for he left town
| the evening of the assignment, going
| presumably to Chicago, and has never
! been heard from since. He was slow in
| paying his bills at the Clifton, bat the
hotel people say that he Cancelled his
account before leaving.
| Joseph Jockey, cashier of the Ger
man-American bank, opened the front
door OF his Summit avenue residence
LIST evening sufficiently wide to admit
| the
NOSE OF A GLOBE REPORTER,
! and flash of Observer Lyons 'smoder-
| ate weather" II do not know who his
other creditors are,". said Mr.. Jockey,
"but he owes the bank $4,000 which he
| borrowed in small sums during the
year or SO which he deposited with us.
Was | surprised to hear of his depart
ure? No! Nor did the bank people