Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-05-12
wa ERn 81 IA ENr spnYg
Mysterious Absence of the Agent of the
Fh1nia Insurance Company.

The mysterious and unexpected disap-
pearanee uf l. w. Spry, local agent of the
fhnnix Mutual Life Insurance Company
Of Hartford, Conn, from this city re-
Gently has caused no little comment
among many of his business associates
here Mr.. Spry came to this city about
nine months ago and opened an Office at
No. s3J Orange street. Besides being in the
insurance business he opened real es-
tate Office and was presumed to be doing
thriving business. some time ago he
suddenly quit the premises, leaving be-
hind an unsatistied rent claim amounting
to about 800. Since that time his landlady
has been unable to find him, as is the case
with 4 score of others who have en-
deavored to come up with him.
Agent spry came here at the instance of
the late General George Il. d. tltassy, who
was a5phyXiateh by gas and died at the
Delaware Hospital Monday last. When
the general came to this city, the Friday
previous to his death, he also made re-
beatetl efforts to lind Spry. without avail.
The latter had been obtaining his mail
regularly at the post-otlice, but Just where
he was stopping or why he had suddenly
vacated his office was a mystery General
d CLASSY was unable to solve He could
not understand why Spry would disappear
on account of a small rent bill and hourly
awaited for him To put in an appearance
~ btlG llAtIA " litlo " SIT MIN. i Ills EDiX
did NOT do nor has he been seen in this
city since the day General d utassy came
here in search of him.
II was learned from the family living in
the house at No. S3J Orange street, that
SprY, who was a man passed middle age,
with long flowing beard, had for time
pretended TO conduct q real estate" bust
ness IN connection with his insurance
agency, and that for Il week or so after his
departure, several kilograms day came
70 ms house, and number of people
called TO see him on some business or
other. But spry could not be found.
IL Is stated that Spry's real estate bust
ness was OH the wild cat order, and that
he remained in constant dread Of the real
estate men about town becoming familiar
with his modus operandi. His plan was
SO The story goes, to become acquainted
with persons owning farm land in different
parts Of the state, and To prevail upon the
owners to allow him to advertise the
properly at points far distant, with d view
70 selling the farm off in building lots.
| His scheme was to at first obtain d plnt Of
the farm and to then apply a name of
some mythical town TO the property in
order to put the building lots ON the
market.
Having once prepared plot of the
NEW city," Agent Spry had circulars sent
| to POINTS in,t the west, citing the advantages
" tle new TtoWH ana us close proximity
| To Wilmington, Del. and its environ
ments. The owner Of the property was to
receive the first payment, which amounted
to $40 on each lot sold, until the farm was
| paid for After the farm was paid for the
owner received 33t per cent on all lots
sold Among those whose properties were
advertised by Spry, il is said, was Jonathan
II, George Of No. S2G West street. A person
! who saw the advertisement Of the property
states that several lots We're sold by Agent
Spry to parties in the far west. Mr.. George
was absent from the city when an effort
was made to interview him to-day.
Another property owner approached by
SPry is Charles Reynolds, living at No. 16i
East seventh street. MIR. Reynolds did
MOI approve Of the plan to sell his property
advanced By Mr. Spry and preferred not
% dispose d it in building lots, .rhe farm
rs located in Sussex county. 1t is under.
stood that other properties were similarly
advertised by Sprv