The Portland daily press., 1892-02-27
STEALING TRADE.
rcGNTINUED FROM FIRST PAGE.l


children were born in Ireland, but E. T.
Burrowes was not born until after they
arrived on this side of the Atlantic. He
came to Portland when quite young. He
was as boy bright and enterprising, and
fitted for Bowdoin College. But not
having the means for a college education
he was obliged to give up that plan. He
learned the carpenters trade, and was
borne upon the Portland directory as a
carpenter until within about ten or a
dozen years ago. Then he began the
manufacture of screens for windows and
doors. He was very active, enterprising
and courageous. To get his first
machine for beginning his manufactur-
ing he had to borrow twenty-five dollars.
He travelled himself in introducing his
goods, and such was his application, in
dustry and economy that his business
fourished greatly. In about ten years it
has grown from the little plant with
machine for which the proprietor ran in
debt to the present large plant which oc-
cupies large space on three streets,
Centre, Free and Spring. 1t is said to
be the largest screen mandatory in the
world, and Mr.. Burrowes has been able
to boast that he has furnished screens to
keep the flies of some of Americas
greatest statesmen, business magnates,
divines and scientists. He has fourished
financially in proportion to the growth
of the business; and few years ago
erected fine house on the Western
Promenade He is about forty years
old. In public affairs he has been quite
prominent as member of the Third
Party. He has been it's candidate for
mayor, and is at present one of its can
didates for councilman in Ward 7.
The arrest of a citizen SO prominent
naturally made great sensation in the
city yesterday, especially as the circum-
stances attending upon it and preceding
it are of very remarkable nature. 1t is
story of business rivalry carried, it is
claimed by the prosecution, to point
where the United States government has
found it necessary to intervene.
About four years ago Mr. j. W. Pease,
who had been foreman for Mr.. Bur-
rowes, began to manufacture screens
under the name of the Portland Screen
Company. Later the company was re-
organized. The leading men in the con-
Germ are w. S. Eaton, president; Charles
r. Lewis, trc 2surer, and, on the board of
directors, Charles W. Allen, Fred A.
Neal, Lewis A. Goudy, W. II. Stevens,
Charles J. Chapman and others. They
soon worked up large business and be-
gan taking orders from different parts of
the country.
There soon began to be considerable
friction between the companies, Mr..
Burrowes alleging that the later company
were getting on the strength of their
name business that would naturally
come to him as the leading screen maker
of Portland. On the other hand the
Portland Screen Co. complain of unfair
treatment from Mr.. Burrowes.
After the Portland Screen Co. had been
operating some time Mr.. Burrowes
brought forward the Portland Wire
Screen Co.; and it may fairly be presum-
ed that this new company got some bust
ness intended for the Portland Screen
Co., just as the Portland Screen Co. may
have got some business that would other
wise have gone to the Burrowes factory.
1t was from this state of affairs that
Mr.. Burrowes was apparently led into
the situation in which he found himself
yesterday.
Portland Screen Company's Statement.
A representative of the PRESS called
upon Mr.. L. A. Goudy, who has been the
managing director of the Portland
Screen Company since its start, last eve
ming, and inquired of him the facts in the
case as he understood them.
Among other things Mr.. Goudy said:
''This trouble has been brewing for long
time. For many months the Portland
Screen Company has been bothered to a
considerable extent in many ways, and
III ldCU Ull0 CIOuD1CS DOSdA UClOlO UllC
Portland Screen Company, as it is today,
was organized. Before that took place
the business of the Portland Screen
Company was carried on by J. W. Pease,
the inventor and present superintendent,
and partner. Mr.. Pease would be con-
stantly harrassed in various ways by in
reference with his orders and his sales
men, but so managed that nothing upon
which to base direct charge against
any one could be obtained. On
one occasion an agent of his
in the West was interfered with
and approached by one of Mr.. Burrowes's
agents and after several other methods
to interfere with his orders were tried
an effort was made to bride him. He
was not made of the stuff to be bribed,
however, and at once wrote to Mr.. Pease
acquainting him with the circumstances.
Later on after the organization of the
present concern matters frequently came
nm which showed MAINLY that the husi-