The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-05-10

Under the caption Seattle Sharks" the
last number of the Lincoln County Times
contains what il alleged to be an expose
of the methods followed by Frye & Bruhn,
beef dealers of this city, in buying cattle
from Eastern Washington stockmen. The
plan il to send out an agent, who buys tho
cattle at an agreed price. pays for them
with a draft on Frye & Bruhn. and ships
the stock. The draft and cattle get to
Seattle about the same time, the draft is
protested and Frye & Bruhn telegraph
back that they will not accept the stock at
the agreed price, but will hold them at
sellers order. or will accept them at a
large per cent. of. The Times article con-
tinues:
Messrs. william H. Flett and Howard 4
Wright, OF Coulse City. sold this firm lot of
cattle in this manner. but are now in town and
propose TO compel the Seattle buyears to stick
to their bargain. Mr.. Flett sold thirty eight
and Howard & Wright nineteen beeves to
William Allison. an agent OF this firm, who
agreed to the price, loaded and shipped the
cattle from Almirs. paid for the cattle with a
draft on Frye d Bruhn, of Seattle. The draft
went to protest and the firm telegraphed back
that they would accept the cattle at IS per head
OFT The Coulee City gentlemen refused to ac-
cept any such compromise and the Seattle
butchers offered to settle at little better figure.
but their offer was again rejected. Mr. Fiett in
tends to make them pay the sum agreed upon II
he has to spsnd money to do It. The purchasers,
1t seems, are trying to wriggs out Of il now by
claiming that Mr. Allison was not their author
lied agent Mr.. Fiett holds that one or the
other is eulpabIe, aud he intends TO ind out
which. and prevent other stock owners from
getting into like trouble.
Mr.. Bruhn, of the above mentioned firm,
was seen at his place of business yesterday
afternoon by PosT-INTELLIGENcER re-
porter. shown the above article and asked
to give his side Of the story. He said:
We buy great many cattle aud always pay
for what We get That man Allison was never
authorized to buy for us. He did the same
thing once before Mr.. Frye buys all our cattle.
or course sometimes buy cattle OF these
men, and, in fact. Allison, who lives at sprague.
Il quite shipper himself, but there are no mid
demen and wasshave no agents our In this
case Allison wired that be could get good cattle.
Mr.. Frye wired what he would pay for the cattle
delivered here and also hat he would pay for
them there. Then, the first thing we know he
bought the cattle end shipped them here and
drew a draft on US 10 pay for them. The draft
came the same time the cattle did We did not
know what arrangements he had made for pay
ing for them. Allison - now in this city and
does not ike to go back. He was in here today
and wanted me 10 seitls for the cattle.
Now will tell you Why we refused the cattla
In tie first place they were poor and had
shruuk lss pouads per head on the way, which
was outrageous. Tie average shrinkage is from
Il ity 10 100 pounds per head, ana We knew there
was something rotten. Allison claims that he
drove the cattle twenty mi es. stood them over
night and thea weighed them in the morning.
The cattle were here and were poor. aud We
offered to allow the leo pounds shrinkage If
they would take ot the elghty-elghi pounds.
that IS to buy the cattle at loo pounds apiece
more than they weighed here They refused 10
take It It's assure Thing the cattle were not
weighed right We kept the cattle four days
ant killed them, thinking they were business
ike people and wo8ld MAKE lair settlement,
but We don't intend to pay the whole o. IL If We
can help it. Once Allison went over into Idaho
and bought some cattle and paid for them
BY s cheek, signing our names. ana had tie
cattle on the way The bank over there wired,
asking If Allison allowed TO draw our
cheeAs. and We had the banK hsra wire back
taa, he was not authorized 10 draw checks for
us, that he Was agent OF ours, aad that his
sheekx would not be hOuorei