The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-03-20
A vANCOUvER GROCER ABscoNDs.
Leaving Many Debts and q Widow, t<
Whom He Was Engaged.

VANCOUVER, B. c., March 49,. Especial. T.
James A. Ford came TO this city tlve years
ago as a clerk in the Hudson Bay Com
pany's store. Two years ago he went into
business on his own hook, and four days
ago he left suddenly for the United States.
His sudden departure created sensation.
for not only are there the usual disap-
pointed creditors to mourn his sudden
exit, but there is also comely young
widow, who expected to have become his
wife yesterday, and whose matrimonial
prospects are ruthlessly blasted. Ford was
half partner in the grocery firm of Weeks
& Ford, doing business on Hastings street
and at Mount Pleasant, and had charge of
the latter place. For some time back there
had been trouble between the twopartners
Mr.. Weeks wanted to buy Ford out. and
Ford wanted to get partner in and let
Mr.. Weeks out. 1t was settled fact, Ford
told friend of his in the city last week,
that the business could not run on as it
was. Something had to the done and
that quickly; so when on Saturday he told
some of his friends that he had succeeded
in getting hold of the firms affairs, and
that it would in future be J. A. Ford, they
were not very much surprised. The same
day that he spread the report, last Satur-
day, he did several very peculiar things.
At Davidson Bros he bought a couple of
gold watches, one of them for himself and
one for his future wife, explaining at the
time that he was going to be married on
Wednesday. His bill for the two pieces
was $135. Then ne hied him up to MUIR
phys fashionable tailoring establishment
and got a suit of clothes he was having
made. These cost him $40 At another
store he purchased stock of furnishings,
collars, cuffs, etc., and ran up
bill of $50. Elsewhere few minor
purchases were made. Saturday night
he was drunk as lord and blew in his
good hard money for champagne and the
like, as though he had a fortune behind
him. Sunday morning singalese jew
eler was tapped to the extent Of $l35 for
rings. bracelets, ETC., Ford giving in pay
ment check on Rand Bros. bank, which
he signed with the nrm's name. Then he
took a livery rig and drove over to New
Westminster, taking with him from his
rooms only small valise and few neces-
sary articles of clothing. From the Colo
NAL hotel he telephoned TO his affianced
wife, Mrs Moore, of 6l5 Gamble street,
but that lady was upstairs at the time,
later he was gone.
The next heard from him was from
Blaine. and since that time his movements
have been mysterious. The fact of the
matter is that no one knows where he is.
Were his rascality confined to the
swindllng of merchants and skipping out,
there might be some paliation or excuse
for his conduct, but he went further and
-ts.Nts tsaI
ised 10 become his wife. This lady's hus-
band was an accountant in the Canadian
Pacific railroad office here, and died some
four wears ago, leaving her without means,
and she was forced To take in boarders.
There were four or tive gentlemen board
ing with her, and among them was Ford
Some fifteen months ago he and Mrs
Moore became engaged. They were only
awaiting satisfactory settlement OF the
| business of Weeks & Ford in order 10 get
married Last fall Mrs. Moore went East
| tn visit friends in Montreal. Her servants
| kept the house going, and Ford looked
after the boarders, that is, he collected the
! money. He was also to have paid the bills,
/ but for some reason or other did not
do so, and when Mrs. Moore came back
/ in January she found things much
| as she left them, except that the accounts
were beginning to accumulate. Ford
| promised 10 return the money in few
| weeks. but has not yet done so. About
| three weeks ago Ford thought he was go
| ing TO get the business into his own hands,
and arrangements were made for the we'd
ding. The boarders were notined to hunt
up another place to stop, as the house was
| being oyerhauled- They left on Friday.
and the ceremony was 10 take place the
| next Wednesday. On Friday evening Mrs.