The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-01-02
PRODUCE MEN swINDLED.
James Scott, a San Francisco Peddler,
Leaves His Creditors $4,000 Out.

SAN Francisco, Jam Especial. r.
There is waiiing among the wholesale pro-
duce merchants About fourteen of the
various large nrms were during Christmas
week the victims of trusted peddler, who
by dexterous stroke of business managed
TO swindle them out of sums amounting in
the aggregate TO $l4.W0. They are now
looking for this peddler, hut his where
abouts is unknown. His name is James
Scott, and he was the largest peddler in
the produce business.
Several years ago Scott appeared as a
peddler among the produce merchants,
buying their goods and selling them at
retail. He soon extended his operations
and increased the number of wagons until
they amounted to ten. Besides obtaining
control of ten wagons he managed to Sc
cure deed to piece of property, and the
produce flrlns soon came 10 regard Scott as
q very substantial citizen, and one
whose business was to be courted.
Nothing wrong was ever known
of him until u week before Christ
mas, when he began to ask for
heavy consignments of goods. There
was no question as to his integrity, and
his orders were honored in every instance.
W
done before, he went out of his usual line
and obtained orders for goods in which he
had never dealt before, such as nuts and
the choicest fruits, dates and raisifs, for
his usual stock consisted of potatoes,
oranges and lines. Scott also obtained
large supplies OF turkeys. Al his orders
were promptly furnished, without pay
ment on his part. No suspicion was ex-
cited, as none of the nrns with whom he
was dealing had any idea of the various
transactions he was making with other es-
tablishments. His wagons did Il busy
trade and were kept active day and night.
Several days after Christmas, when the
day of Scott's usual settlement arrived, he
did not appear, and his various creditors
started TO look for him, but he was not 10
be found. 1t was learned that he had left
the city the day after Christmas. One of
his drivers stated that he had gone to Sc
attic to collect some bills. One of his
creditors on Wednesday telegraphed to
that place, but answer was returned that
Scott was not there. Further investiga-
tion revealed the fact that SCOTS piece of
property had been some time ago trans
terred. There are now fourteen produce
and commission houses who would like to
know his whereabouts.
A member of one of the victimized firms
said today:
s'During christmas week seott's orders became
unusually heavy. lie told some Of the firms
that ne was going to establish store in seattle,
and thus secured large consignments OF nuts
and potatoes and oranges. He came to me on
Christmas day and got 800 worth of turkeys. l
gave them to him, and have since learned that
on the same day he gave orders TO his various
drivers to sell the goods for whatever they could
get This they did and turned the money over
TO him. Other merchants said they were sur
prised TO see mandarin oranges and bananas
on the streets SO cheap, aud that game could be
obtained from reddlers for less per pound than
they could be got at wholesale stores. 1t is no
longer a mystery how such articles were sold so
cheuply, since the men selling them did not pay
for them"
Following are some of the firms victim
lied, the amounts being only approxi-
mated: Wetmore & Co.. III 900; ]. ID.
Keefe & Co., between 5000 and $1,000;
Dalton Bros. 81 900: Porter Bros, $500;
Cain & Co, $500. Cain & Mitchell. $1,000;
McDonough & Co., 500: Il. K. Stevens,
81 COO; Trobok K Bergin 81 600.