New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-11-08
THEIR CREDITORS IN THE LURCH.
TWO MANUFACTURERS THOUGHT no HAVE
SAILED SECRETLY FOR EUROPE

TWO MANUFACTURERS THOUGHT no HAVh
SAILED SECRETLY FOR EUROPE.
Thomas Harper, president and treasurer OF the
Harper Brothers Company, manufacturers OF oeco
rated lamps and lamp shades, at Barclay and CDurch
sts and william Harper, manager of the factory, AT
Van Nest Westchester County, have disappeared,
leaving debts reported to be from S25ooo To *ooooo
It is said that they have not been at their once
for over ten days, and creditors say that they sailed
for Europe about week ago.
Deputv sheriff Young has received several execu-
tions against the company, aggregatng about @l''oo
and AGAINST the Messrs. Harper for about $4,000,
Int nothing was found to attach 1t is said mat
,hev converted all the assets they could into cash,
collected as many Of the accounts as possible, ana
raised considerable money on notes. II Is currently
rcported that one creditor caught TO the extent OF
$40 900: another for $1,000, and others for less
amounts.
At the Office OF the company it was said yesterday
by people who occupy a part Of the same room thai
The Harpcrs sailed for Europe last saturday. Moth
ing definite was known as to the amount OF their
debts but they were at least $4,000, and NIGH
reach $4,000. 1t is said in the trade that te
Harpers came here from Scotland and started III
small way about seven years ago, nailuiacturihs
lanterns They gradually increased the business, ana
in February last incorporated 1t under the style OF
tho Harper Brothers Company, with capital stock OF
$50 600 which 1000 issued for their business
and $4,000 for cash, which, IL i said, they Induced
F. H. Lowell 10 put in. The firm at that time cla med
assets of 10000. which was turned In for their
stock. The Harpers managed the business Ihoma'
looking after the finances and William after the manu-
featuring part of the firm.
The inhabitants OF Van Nest are highly indignant
over the conduct of the Harper Brothers. They both
lived on property adjoining their factory there.
Williams wife and four children lived with lilm
Thomas is single. They came to Van Nest about about
two wears ago. and obtained property from John
s. Mapcs, OF the firm OF IL. c. Napes * Co, az
40. 80 Libery-st, on Wnch 70 ouiiu
their factory. In the firm falied u
keep the factory running for seven years. the iand ana
bujidng were to revert to Mr.. Mapes. From iiity 70
sixty hands were employed at the factory The
frU seemed 70 be doing good business, ana received
liberal credit. - ,, ..ouo
ny the expense, of an invention which they nave
been working for some time This was process ailo
machine for printing figures upon gass fhey s hep' p
borrowing money to pay the expenses OF the M
yenton from Mr. Mapes and other neighb0rs, even
borrowing SiOO from the foreman OF the factory
II has been discovered that the machine they were Try
inc 70 perfect had been shipped away before they ned
n is believed that both the brothers and the machine
arc now i'm scotland. where the brothers came rom
some time ago a man named Scott, from Wheeline.
" Va paid the larpers $4,000 for the right 20 use
t,er Invention A few weeks ago he declared MN
seu as dissatisfied and demanded the return OF NJ,
money Tcis Is thought to have been the last straw
that decided the Harpers To iec'