The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-09-20
WHERE is MIR. RUMPF?
Thought to Have Gone to Ger
many or Honolulu.
DETECTIVES MAKING A SEARCH.
New Theories - to the Reason for His
Departure-Basye Wants Him Back
New Suits Entered.

The mysterious disappearance Of Simon
Rumpf, the well-known merchant. and
the subsequent proceedings IN court in
which ]. X. Basye & Co., the purchasers
of his stock. were accused by his creditors
of conspiracy with Runpf 10 defraud
them, have made all parties interested
anxious that Rumpf shall be found and
brought back to the city. 1t has leaked
out that detectives have been at work for
about two weeks in trying to find some
trace of the missing man, but up to date
have learned nothing positive that viii
lead toward discovering his whereabouts.
Investigation has revealed the fact that
his parents live in Nuremberg, Germany,
and some of his friends think he has gone
there. Others are laboring under the be-
lief that he is either on his way or has
arrived at Honolulu.
Up TO the present time the general
opinion from what has become public
property through the courts has been that
Rumpf left the city owing TO shady trans
actions. This opinion is not shared by
many who know Rumpf, because they
think that man who was so well known
in business circles and who stood so well
with wholesale houses would be a fool TO
sell himself for a few thousand dollars
when he had been accustomed TO deal
with larger amounts. In this connection
a new theory is advanced as 10 Rumpf's
disappearance by his friends. After he
sold his stock to Basye & Co. his creditors
came down upon him through his attor-
neys like a hallstorm, made him Ges-
perate, and il is presumed that he lost his
head and got out of the city without re-
sard for consequences. On the other
hand, it is claimed that Rumpf acted in
good faith when he sold his stock 10
Basye 81 Co., but previous to that time
had surreptitiousiy taken large amount
of goods, that he held for sale
on commission or for purchase by men,
orandum, across the line into British
Columbia. thinking he would be able to
dispose of them at a large profit, meet his
liabilities and still retain his business
standing. The sudden demands of his
creditors upset his plans and he was in n
fix. Ii he tried TO deliver the goods he
would be compelled to bring them back
across the line, which would involve
smuggling or the payment of a large sum
for duties. Rather than pay the duties he
skipped to parts unknown and may have
either left the goods concealed at Victoria
or Vancouver or possibly taken them with
him. There are those who have a good
insight into the case who think that the
missing goods are concealed in this city,
their reasons being that much that is miss
ing was in large boxes and could not have
been carried away conveniently. No mat
ter what the proceedings in court may be
as against Mr.. Basye. the Investigations of
a PosT-I ETELIIGgScER reporter led to the
belief that he is taking as much interest in
having Rumpi brought back as the other
interested parties.
Attorney John II. Elder, representing
Phelps Il Miller, wholesale jewellers of San
Francisco, will file III the superior court
today a complaint in Intervention against
Simon Rumpf. Joseph Mayer and ]. X.
sBasye & Co., in which the court is re-
quested 10 order Arthur Griffin. receiver of
the Diamond Palace, to deliver over
81. l25.s7, value of goods that Phelps
claims TO have sent 10 Rumpf for selection
Ii is also asked that, If the full amount of
the goods is not found. the amount OF the
deficit be declared valid claim against J.
X. Basye 4 Co. and Rumpf. In his petit
ton Phelps claims that August 1, 1894,
Simon Rumpf requested him TO send
memorandum goods from which Rumpf
might select such rs he desired to pur-
chase, but with the express understanding
that there should be no sale or delivery
until Phelps approved the selections. On
this basis. the petitioner says. he sent
sl,125s7 worth of goods 10 Rumpf
August 7, and that Immediately after
their arrival Rumpf entered into a
conspiracy with ]. X. Basye & Co., by
which Rumpf pretended to sell the goods
to them. and did deliver them at night,
Immediately after this Rumpf absconded
from the city and has not communicated
with Phelps about the consignment OF
goods.
The petition in Intervention OF the Pair
point Manufacturing Company and seven
teen other creditors of Rumpf was fled
yesterday in the superior court. There
was also filed = complaint By the Kent &
Stanley Company. OF Rhode Island on a
claim OF sis0s6 Tor goods sold since
July ..
Yesterday there was consultation of
the attorneys representing Rumpt's credi.
tors for the purpose of settling on some
plan that would bring the tsngls to a
4 Il -