The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-08-26
THE REPORTER MISSED
A Good Item That Happened Some Time
Ago.

"Y GU newspaper fellows are pretty
smart and don't let many things escape
you, but once in while a pretty good
story gets away" said well known bu-
siness man yesterday.
"We do not pretend to be omniscient,' -
replied the reporter, but what particu-
lar omission do you happen to have in
mind now?"
"Well," said the gentleman, II just
came out of an Office and while l was
transacting my business there I could
not help thinking of the gentleman who,
several years ago, occupied the office and
cut such swell in social and business
circles, finally leaving town and quite a
number of mourners, but so quietly and
without any fuss that only the initiated
knew anything about his doings while
here"
"Tell me all about it," said the report
er.
every well,'' replied the gentleman.
"but this is not for publication"
The reporter smiled blandly and the
gentleman said:
II think it was about 1881 or 1882 the
gentleman in question came to Portland.
He was agent for a great Boston house
and made sales of their goods on COM
mission. He made good living but he
was not contented with that; he itched
to do business on his own account. AT
ter short time he made arrangements
to buy direct from the Boston firm. He
gave notes to the firm for the goods
which were shipped him, and these goods
were deposited in Commercial street
warehouse. Then the gentleman would
give his notes to the Portland banks for
funds and these notes would be protect
ed by the goods in the warehouse. When
the Boston FIRMS notes became due they
were met by money from the Portland
banks and when the notes at the Port
land banks became due they would be
met by fresh lots of goods from the Bos-
ton firm. The notes that he gave also
provided for his personal expenses. He
lived at the rate Of about thousand dol
lars month, and the money came from
his notes deposited in the banks.
1.-THE gentleman was most agreeable in
manner. He was fine looking, well
built, easy in conversation, agreeable in
manner, a genial host, and was popular
with all who knew him. He had COM
Portable yacht in which his friends were
taken to sail and wined and dined, and
he had a charming summer resort at
Cape Elizabeth, an old, historic spot.
Once in while the firm in Boston that
had such extensive dealings with him
came to Portland to see If everything
was all right and they would always find
the goods in the warehouse and supposed
they were safe.
cat last, about four years ago, the crash
came. The Boston firm heard some
things that surprised them and one of
the firm came down to see if they were
true. He saw the superintendent of the
warehouse and on questioning him was
told their goods were mortgaged to the
banks. But said the irate merchant,
I gave orders not to let these goods out
of the warehouse 'Yes,' replied the
superintendent, but your father gave a
written order to me to deliver the goods
to Mr.. --- as wanted The merchant
demanded the order. The superintend-
emit declined to show it unless in the
presence of disinterested party. The
merchant brought a distinguished law
yer, now a celebrated jurist, to the ware
house. As soon as the lawyer saw the
order he said to his client, That settles
it, you can't do thing The gentle
mans transactions with the banks
amounted to over $125, 900, but they real
ly lost only small portion of this. The
Boston firm however were out $4,000,
and the bleeding was so skillfully done
they couldn't touch their debtor legally.
The Cape Elizabeth place was sold and
the money satisfied creditors. Two par
ties claimed the yacht. One party put in
a keeper and when the keeper left her
for few moments, the keeper for the
other party got aboard and took posses
sion. The gentleman quietly left Port
land without creating more than a ripple
of questioning, and is now said to be liv-
ing south Of Mason & Dixon's line, prob
ably living well.'
Conference of Boot and Shoe Makers.