Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-06-05
GONE OUT OF SIGHT.
Shadyside Comes to the Front With
Another Sensation.
DISAPPEARANCE OF A FAMILY.
Florist Roffey, With His Wife and Family,
Leaves Suddenly.
SOME DOUBT AS TO WHY THEY LEFT

Shadyside has another sensation. That
exclusive and aristocratic section had not
recovered from the shock caused by the
desperate duel on the streets Friday after
noon until the announcement was made
that Charles Roaey & Son. who have been
conducting q large greenhouse on Belle
fonte street had mysteriously disappeared.
The cause Of their departure is unknown,
but it is claimed that numerous unpaid bills
are left behind, and it is believed the florists
have gone to Canada.
The senior Rofey enjoved the reputation
of being the most expert landscape gardener
and foriculturist in the city. He is an
Englishman, and was at one time landscape
gardener for ex-Premier Gladstone, having
charge Of the vast gardens about the Grand
Old Mans residence at Hawarden Roffey
is plain man, hard worker and has a
wife and ten children. They lived in q
small, unpretentious house, on Copeland
street, and Roffey. during the past four or
five years, has been employed by many
wealthy East End residents to supervise the
arrangement of their lawns and gardens
Roffcy Knew His Business
Last summer while employed at the resi-
dence of j. H. Park he met and interested
A. X. Stevenson, the well-known attorney,
who was seeking information to be used in
the construction of a private conservatory.
Roffey's knowledge of the floral science
pleased the attorney, and in their subse-
quent discussions on the subject they ar
ranged to 60 into business. Mr.. Stevenson
DO 70 hal, tbo
agreement by which the plans for the green
house were enlarged and the building
constructed according to Roffey's ideas
When completed it was stocked from Mr..
Stevenson's house conservatory and from
large purchases made at his expense The
business arrangement was that from No
vember until the first of the present month
Roffey should have the receipts of the busi-
ness to live upon, and after that he was to
receive 500 month and half interest in
the business His half of the profits were
to be held back and allowed to accumulate
until they covered the actual cost of the
business, when it was all to be turned over
to him. The business started under the
firm name of G. Roffey & Son.
Built Up Good Business.
They took charge early in the winter and
by all the arts at their command developed
the STOCK OF plants and cuttings to an extra
ordinary extent. They sold cheaply and
the business began to boom in short time.
Within few weeks when the general de-
mand for flowers began, their prices were so
low that people all over the East End
f1ocked to the place and flowers were sold
by the wagon load.
Last Friday week young Roffey, aged
about 18, went to Canada. His father talked
to Mr.. Stevenson that evening and the next
but said not word about dissat-
sfaction with his place or his position. On
night Roffey disappeared. Be-
tween 4 and 3 o'clock on the morning of
Decoration Day the goods from Rofey's
house were taken away in wagons and since
hat time none of the family have been seen
Or heard of
A couple of weeks ago Roffey offered to |
sell half the greenhouse business to Robert |
Fulton, an employe at Murdoch's, and the |
money was to have been paid the day Rof-
ey left, but Fulton reconsidered and did
lot buy. Fulton has since assumed charge
lnder an arrangement with Mr.. Stevenson.
1t seems Roffey is the only person who
oses to any extent by his erratic conduct.
Aside from what he has taken'in from the
ale of flowers it is not known that he has
AIKEN anything, but as he left no account
,ooks behind there is no way of learning
low much he had taken in. His debts, it is
hought, could have been paid with 5000.