The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-11-14
MAGNIFIED A TRIFLE
Strange Departure of a Promi'
nent Ballard Business Nan.
HE DREADED ADVERSE CRITICISM
He Had Made Cntmpertans Alterations
I'm the Records of the West Coast
Manufacturing Company.

prominent and highly esteemed business
man Of Ballard, for Chicago on the even
ing OF November 5, has caused consider
al G surprise 10 his intimate friends and
has given rise to endless sGrmises n an
attempt 10 exp ain bis abrupt and unsc-
countable absence. which. as il becomes
known. creates quite . sensation In Ba,-
lard.
Mr.. Fletcher on October IL took lease
Of the Aud shIngge mill for four months.
beginning on November l. He had
finished the building OF q new dry house
and had begun making other improve
ments. Mr.. A. e. Aud was made the
business manager of the mill. but Mr.
Fletcher said nothing TO him about going
away. On Burke avenue he was also
building handsome residence. which was
nearly ready for occupancy. Mr.. Fletcher
had intended TO move into this house
about November ~ The contractor.
Allan Dag. proposes 10 nnisA the buiiG-
lag, although he has received bur q small
sum on account OF the contract Mr.
Fletcher said nothing 30 him about going
away and made no arrangements by
which Mr.. Daw could receive payment for
his work
light 70 explain WHY Mr.. Fletcher should
go away without leaving some word of ex-
PLANTATION to his business manager, to the
contractor who - building his house. or
10 his intimate personal friends. The
only intimation the public had of his
strange departure was personal notice in
the Sunday Posr-ISrEELIeEScER of the
5ih. under the Ballard social news, that
he had gone to Chicago the previous Fri
day nighT.
Mr.. Fletcher fully intended to make Bal
lard his permanent place of residence and
10 carry on the business of manufacturing
shingles al the Aud Single Company's
mill, bat he seems TO have changed his
mind suddenly. because two hours after ne
informed his wife they took the Northern
Pacific train tor Chicago. leaving his
household effects to be shipped later on.
Ii now seems certain that Mr. Fletcher
has no intention of at present returning to
Ballard. The only person among his
former personal friends who has received
any word from him since be left Seattle
was James :. Bushnell, cashier of the
West Coast Improvement Company On
Saturday Mr.. Bushnell received the fol-
lowing telegram, dated ~ Pasco, Wash,
from him.
suspend sentence until you hear from
me from Chicago"
This telegram was = puzzle TO Mr.. Bush
neil, as he did not know why Mr.. Fletcher
should appoint him his Judge, or what
offenseeFletcher had committed that re-
quired the imposition of sentence upon
him. He did not owe Mr.. Bushnell any
thing and he had no unfinished business
transaction with him. II appeared like a
case of mental alteration. Mr.. Bushnell
has not as yet received the promised letter.
Mr.. Fletcher has ample means to meet
his outstanding debts, and was known as
! an honest. honorable man. Indeed. he
has enough still due him from the sale OF
the mill and from securities which he left
behind to pay for the work on his house.
which includes, IS far as is known, eli tn at
he owes. Besides his house and lot he
also owns a ranch in Chehalis county.
There VAS not a man more highly thought
of IN Ballard than Mr.. Fletcher, and If he
would have accepted the nomination for
mayor at the next election he would un-
doubleday have been elected with q rous-
ing majority.
He vas formerly treasurer and one
fourth owner of the West Coast Manufac.-
uring ami Investment Company's mill. A
short true ago he sold out his interest 20
ID. McVay and ]. T. Sinclair His connec-
ton with this company may furnish a
reason for his hasty departure. 1t seems
that he made some unimporfant altera-
tions in the records OF the company which
were not authorized. and he may have
magniied the offense until he feared a
criminal prosecution Mr.. Mevay says
no prosecution would have been instigaiec.
by him. but Mr.. Fletcher had disposition
extremely sensitive TO adverse public crit
lelsn. aud what Others might deem TT lie
he may have considered q serious matter.
No one suspects Mr.. Fletcher of dishonest
intentions, and his friends firmly believe
ne will straighten out in due time the un-
finished business he Jeff behind