Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-06-18
THEY SKIPPED OUT,
LEAVING A LARGE NUMBER OF M0URNERS
IN THIS VICINITY.
Patrons Of the Mcclure Portrait Company Mourning
IpjudciOusly Invested Oash-lhe Com
pany's Property Attached.

Between seventy-fve and one hundred
residents of this city and adjoining
towns are mourning the sudden depart
ure from this city Of the local represen-
tatives of the Mcclure Portrait Com
pany, of Chicago, who have skipped out
for parts unknown, carrying with them,
according to report, much cash and a
number of pictures belonging to local
patrons. The little property of the
Company remaining in the city has been
attached by creditors, and will likely
be sold to satisfy debts contracted.
The Mcclure Portrait Company, OF
which Mr.. G. Y. Mcclure appears 20 be
the head. came here about two months
ago. and rented quarters for three
months from Mr.. Kull, on South Main
street. The management paid two
months rent in advance, the arrange
ment being that the lease was to be ter
minated by either party on giving thlrty
DAYS notice. The agents OF the Com
pany at once began an active canvas OF
the city and neighboring towns, Sc
curing large number OF orders
for portraits, on which they,
in numerous instances, required IN
advance payment of one-half the con-
tract price, which payment seems to
have varied from five TO seven dollars.
A short time ago, representatives OF
the Company went about to their pa
irons selling printed slips at twenty
five cents each, which directed the pa
irons to call for their pictures after
July 1st. a great many who had
made the advance payment purchased
these slips, and thus lost an additional
quarter. Mr.. Mcclure left the city
some time ago, for Erie, Pa, and the
rent for June not being paid,
Mr.. Kull swore out an attach
ment and had the goods levied
upon on the 18th. Constable Love
went to the Office of the company and
there found very little property, a lot
of pictures intended for local subScrib-
ers having been removed out OF the
city. He attached the visible assets,
and a man named White, who seemed
to be in charge, is supposed to have in
formed Mcclure of what was going on,
for that gentleman telegraphed from
Erie that he would be in Wheeling Mon
day of this week. "sure." He did not
come, however. On the contrary, Mr..
White, in charge Of the local office, also
disappeared. Mr. George Kurner, the
painter, then socked another attach
ment upon the property for job OF
painting which had never been settled
for, and thus matters stand at the pres
ent time.
One lady, who called at the office of
Justice Davis yesterday, and who lives
on the South Side, said she knew OF
about twenty-one people who were out
money on the company without having
received any return, and an Island man
said he and several of his neighbors
were mourners, Bridgeport and Ben
wood people are also said to have been
induced TO pay over money without re-
ceiving value.
To-day will be return day on the first
attachment notice, but as return was
not had on personal service it will be
some time before the goods can be sold
according to law. In the meantime
something Of interest to those who In
vested in the promises Of the company
may develop.