Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-05-25
RUINED BY HIS NAG.
Charles Klopfer, the Tailor, Wrecked
Upon Financial Shoals.
THE ORIGIN OF HIS TROUBLES.
First Got Into the Courts and Then Got
Into Difficulties.
TWENTY.SIX TEARS LABOR UNDONE

The beginning of an interesting legal
case that promises some spirited develop
ments was begun in court yesterday by Mr..
and Mrs. j. B. Henry filing two suits
against Charles Klopfer to recover balances
due on judgments One suit was for $50 65
and the second for 1904 40.
The defendant, Charles Klopfer, one of
the most extensive tailoring merchants in
Allegheny county, was seen by DISPATCH
man at his home on the lofty heights of
Spring Hill, Allegheny, late last night
Mr.. Klopfer's version Of the case from its
unfortunate beginning until the present is
as pathetic as it is interesting. He recited
his grievances in the darkness of the night
and more than once was his voice
choked with some suspicious emotion.
'1t is hard to find the fruits of unremit-
ting labor cast back after 26 years of hard
struggling" he said slowly, as he watched
the showers of sparks falling from the steel
mills far in the distance.
The Cause OF All His Troubles.
1.-TWO years ago." he continued, suddenly
breaking off his revery, 81 was in i'll health.
I was talking of purchasing another horse
and was driving one had taken on trial
The horse was sold to me as one of gentle
temper and if not satisfactory I had the
privilege of returning it. One afternoon 1
drove down to an express Office on Federal
street to deliver package. 1 had just left
the buggy and was upon the point of hitch
ing the horse to the post, when
passing coachman ficked the animal
with his whip. The horse was
frightened and dashed away at break-neck
speed. 1 followed, but was unable to over
take him, and no one else had the daring to
stop him.
"The horse crossed the Fort Wayne tracks,
and just beyond, ran into Mrs. j. B. Henry,
who was crossing the street at the time. I
did not see the accident, but subsequently
learned that the wheels of the buggy, a light
vehicle, by the way, ran over her ankle.
heard nothing of the case for fortnight,
and did not know such o person was in
existence. But one morning man came
into my tailoring house, at No. 120 Ohio
street, Allegheny. and asked me ii 1 had
had a runaway. told him had, and then
the man told me Mrs. Henry had been
injured. and he, as her husband, demanded
compensation. A few davs later was in
formed that o suit for S35, 900 had been
instituted against me for damages done to
the person of Mrs. J. B. Henry.
Mulctcd In Heavy Damages.
IT then looked up the matter and found a
number of persons had witnessed the acci-
dent and feeling certain that the complain
ant could not make out case against me,
I did not give it the careful attention I
should. As result of this a verdict for
S. 500 was rendered against me for damages
Mrs. Henry sustained by injuries, and $3.50
for Henry to compensate him for the time
his wife lost while bedridden. The case
was tried before Judge Slagle and took
an appeal to the Supreme Court.
"While the matter was pending I made an
agreement with Henry whereby was to
pay him in installments $3.50 every three
months until the debt was paid in case the
Supreme Court affirmed the decision of the
lower court This agreement was so
worded that in case failed to make the
quarterly payments the debtor was to call
upon my bondsmen, Frederick Klopfer and
j John Eisenschmidt, for the amount due.
"The Supreme Court confirmed the de-
cision and paid the first installment four
months ago. The second installment fell
due on April Is, and asked for 80 days
extension, as was in a tight financial
place, and this respite was granted me.
His Financial Standing Wrecked.
"Since the judgment was rendered against
He my creuit HAS gone. ueTcHdHLS leIuseU
to trust me and this state of affairs, coupled
with stagnation of business, totally incapac-
itated me for the liquidation of my debts.
Upon the 18th of May my affairs were no
better; indeed, it seemed they had become
much worse. could not meet the bill and |
they threatened to toreclose. They pushed |
me so closely that last Saturday made an |
assignment for s35, 900 in favor of Living
stone & Matthews, of New York.
cat the time closed my doors had
some SIS, 900 in stock. This, together with
my property at No. 100 Ohio street, valued
at $13, 900, four lots at Millvale, valued at
81 900, my residence property, valued at
about $4,000, and policy in the New
York Life Insurance Company for s., 900,
have turned over to the estate of John
Keiser as collateral security. am power
less to do anything more.
1.-THE Sheriff has closed up all of my
stores, and I am practically dead to the
business world. / conducted tailoring
houses at No. 12O Ohio street, Allegheny,
It No. 20S Smithfield street, at Fifth avenue
md Grant street and at McKeesport, and it
comes hard after these long years of work
o find myself at the bottom of the ladder"
md with sigh the old man turned into his
lome that is not his home