The morning call., 1893-06-24
A TANGLED MESS.
Charles Offers Creditors
Sigh for Money.
A LARGE LEGAL RETINUE
His Offer to Compromise Is Declined
by Those He Owes Money To.
Experts at Work.

The wish expressed by Charles Offer. the
cigar-deaier. to compromise with his cred
itors is lot likely to be gratifed. Indeed,
the more his creditors investigate his man
ner of conducting business the less in
clined do they seem to meet him on a
friendly footing. The books of the concern
are being exported, and while the larger
creditors are inclined to be reticent, 1t
seems to be the anticipation of each one
that the books, if they divulge anything.
will reveal matters Just as they are-not.
In 1890 Offer started in business on his
own account and then prOfessed to be
worth $4,000, and fortune so favored him
that two years later he set down his assets
at $685. O0 The mercantile agencies dis
counted his claim, however, and rated him
at only $4,000.
Last spring, while in the East, Offer rep
resented to the Eastern wholesale houses
that he had Withdrawn from manufacture
ing and proposed combining himself 10 the
ilbbing trade. On the strength of his rep
reservations the New York houses showed
an inclination to give good credit, but, for
tunately for themselves, they took the pre-
caution TO send 10 this city for Offers
rating.
For purpose that can be surmsed he
had refused to furnish the mercantile
agencies with any information regarding
his business, and consequently the New
York houses failed TO get the satisfactory
rating of their would-be customer that
they desired. Notwiths tandinG, by sheer
pertinacity he ontrlved to obtain goods
valued a. 10000, most Of which be shipped
to Portland, Or On his return to this city
be obtained a considerable amount OF credit
from local firms. and most OF these consign-
ments he shipped into the country and sold.
4 bout this time he went TO Portland, Or,
and day or two after his return, through
his attorney, he informed his creditors
that the Bank of California was pressing
him and asked that time be granted him.
The answer made by his creditors was the
attaching of all his property they could
reach. A very brief investigation satisfied
those having claims against Offer that he
had shown such business aptitude in SO
arranging matters that ne should lose lit
tie or nothing that the time was fully ripe
for their taking action 10 protect their in
terests. Irnth 10 tell, there was not much
unincumbered property in sight for the
creditors TO attach. While IN Portland
Offer handed over what stock he had on
hand to l.. Lachman for little over Sill
600, ella inning that he owed him 5000. and
the balance was secured by notes that, to
say the least, would not readily be dis
counted.
Near Bakersfield the enterprising cigar
dealer owned about los acres of land,
which he recently mortgaged to his wife
for $1,000 His city property is also mort
gagged aud, to complete matters, he home
steaded his property on Post street little
over week ago.
Attachments have been placed on the
Battery-street store. the Bakersfield and
city property and on the cigars transferred
to Lachman ct Portland. Altogether it is
rather a pretty business tangle, and
whether the creditors get nything out of
the wreck or not it is certain MI Offers
interests are going to be well looked after.
j. Fredenrich of the firm of Naphtaly,
Freidenrch & Alderman, NJ. II. Was
cewi,Z and q. Hall Of the law firm of
Cross & Hall have all been retained to see
that he does OF come to grief in the legal
difficulties that seem Imminent.
The total Indebtedness OF Offer will
aggregate somewhere about S60,000 while
he claims that he has book accounts that
will yield $4,000. His statement does not
meet with general credit.
Meantime the books are being exported,
and creditors are awaiting the result. Mr..
Offer. while not anxiousiy seeking meet
ing with his whilom friends, makes de-
NAL of all and every allegation that may
tend TO discredit him, and appears willing
to leave his case in the hands of the
numerous legal lnminaries who are watch
Ing his interests