Evening journal., 1896-09-02
JUDGMENT CONFESSED.
Sheriff Gillis Has the Knowles
Woolen Mills at New Castle.
HEAVY JUDGMENTS ENTERED.


SUIT ON TWO NOTES AND THAT
PRECIPITATED THE CONFEs-
SION OF JUDGMENT FOR NEAR
LY s5OOOO
Cne of the largest industrial estab-
lishments of New Castle passed into
the hands of Sheriff ellis this morn
ing, and he is now busily engaged In
making an appraisement of the stock
| and fixtures Lcie yesterday af-
ternoon James Gay Knowles, pro-
prietor OF the Knowles Wooden
1 Mills, situated on the Delaware rail-
road not far from the station at New
| Castle confessed judgment for almost
1 S0O,OOO, and upon those judgements
l the sheriff this morning made the
| levy. Samuel w. McCaulley repre-
sented Mr. Knowles in the proceed
ings.
There are but three confessed judg-
ments, two of which are in favor OF
William G. Knowles. a brother of the
woolen manufacturer. The confessions
are as follows:
William G. Knowles. assignee,
$4,000.
James r. Mitchell & Co., Of Phila-
delphia,, 2755O.6O.
| William G. Knowles, in his own
personal capacity, SlO,O24.
While the action of Mr.. Knowles
created some surprise in legal and
l business circles, to many persons IL
was no surprise. for they were
aware Of the shaky condition Of his
credit
The mills have not been IN opera
ton for several months, the depressed
condition of the market causing the
shut down
The Ninth National Bank, OF Phia-
delphia, brought about the present
crisis. Several days ago it entered suit
in the Superior Court to recover on
two notes, aggregating about SO, 500,
which Mr.. Knowles had failed to meet.
This morning an Evening Journal re-
porter called upon William S. Hillcs,
who represents the bank. and asked
him for particulars regarding the suit,
but he refused to give them, saying
that it was matter connected with
his Office practice and he did not care
to discuss It.
IL is likely that other suits will be
begun in a few days, as there are a
number of other claims.
This is the second or third time that
Mr.. Knowles has been financially en-
barrassed since he has been in busi-
ness.
SKETCH OF THE MILLS.
James G. Knowles's large wooler
| mills have been in operation sincl
, . 1873, and have been carried on by hin
I as sole proprietor since that date
j Just prior to the year 1868 a mill wa
] built by James G. Shaw, who then as
/ sociated himself with Mr.. Knowles un
der the firm name OF Shaw 4 Knowles
, I The spinning Of cotton-yarn was be
gun.
The mill was supplied with botl
cotton and woOlen machinery, anC
both were operated by the firm unit
1871. At that time the partnership
was dissolved and Mr.. Knowles, TAX
ing the woolen machinery, leased par
of the building from Mr.. Shaw ant
carried on business for himself.
In 1873 Mr.. Knowles built mills con.
tanning four sets of wooden maohin.
cry. These were destroyed by fire Oc
| tober %, 1878, but Immediately re
built. In 1884 they were again burn
, ed but, undaunted by even this sec
ond calamity, Mr. Knowles prompt,
Ewent to work and soon ha,
a better factory than the on
, | destroyed. In 1886 he built
large addition, put in four NOR
sets of machinery and increased th
number of looms TO 200. thus NOR
than doubling the capacity of the es
y | tablishment, making Il one of tn
| largest and best-arranged and most
[ thoroughly equipped in the state.
An idea Of its size may be gainel
d from the following figures. The mali
\ fr I.rs
: stories in height, while another, ais
of two floors, is so by 80 feet in di
mensiOns, and One-st0ry building
= the dying and finishing ROOM is ~
by "a feet A fourth building, know
: as the picker" department, is SO b.
l. by "a feet and besides these there ar
the various offices.
The intricate and delicate machin
| cry is driven by two engines, with al
] aggregate Of 100 horse power. Ever
. | improved device known to this branc
4 Of manufacture is supplied, and ever
safeguard Of life and property tina
could be thought Of has been place
= in this model mill. It is lighted b
1 electricity and has an automatic fir
}. | apparatus. which is unexcelled.
s consists of what are known as cot
.e ton wOrsteds" of medium grade manu-
= factured on wooden machinery and dc
8 | signed for the clothing trade for men
l. wear. OF these, in busy times, nor
IS than 1000 yards are manufacture
Is per day. or over 10000 yards a weel
i The material has nearly always bee
E. disposed of directly by the proprieto
"a who has had an Office in New Yorl
from which the greater output of IA
mill has been distributed to all par
of the United States.
a The prevailing hard times are a
le tributed as the cause Of his present I
le | nancial trouble.
ID -