New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-21

Co.-sURPRIsE IN BUSINESS cIRcLEs-pRoa-
ABLE COURT PROCEEDINGS BY THE
DEFENDANTS TO-DAY.
Deputy-SherH Mulvaney yesterday took oba,,x
OF the New-York store, at No. $50 Fifth-aye a,
Ovington Brothers, dealers in china and glass.
ware at Nos 80 and 10 Flatbush-ave Brooklyn
on an attachment from James Dunno lawyer. for
500 127 in favor OF George Borgfedt & Co for
goods sold and delivered between March : ls95
and August Is, 1896 The attachment was oh.
tanned on the allegation that the goods were solA
on the strength OF statement made by Oylng,on
Brothers on February |, 1890. which showed LA.
bilities of $4,000, and that This statement wa,
untrue. as the plaintiffs have since learned tina,
liabilities to the amount of S164226 We're omitted.
of which S122 226 was due to the estate ofHA
Ovington.
The business is a very old one. having been ~
tablshed in 1916 and II became the representa-
tive house in its line in Brooklyn. The New.York
branch was opened in March, 1850 and the Arm
has summer branches at Narragansett Pier and
Bar Harbor They were burned out in Fulton-st.
Brooklyn in 1888 with loss OF Sl50000 and In
May. 1894. they were again damaged by fire and
recovered $1,000 insurance. They moved in 1892
to their present site at Nos IS and 40 Flatbush-
ave. which was then centre OF trade
Included in the attachment Is a statement ~
the firms condition on August !. which shows
actual liabilities Of SOD. 500 actual assets Sl26-
375. consisting OF merchandise in Brooklyn. sT0-
600; in New-York So 600: Bar Harbor $1,000;
Narragansett Pier, $4,000: bills receivable 5000:
fixtures and stable, $4,000; cash. 1915.
Sheriff Buttling Of Kings County yesterday
served writ Of attachment on Ovington Broth
ers and took possession Of their establishment in
Brooklyn. The news OF the attachment created
much surprise in Brooklyn business circles. as
the firm were thought 10 be among the richest as
we'll as the most conservative houses in that city.
1t was 1920 p. m. when young man from
the office Of Mr.. Dunno rushed into the Office Of
Sheriff Buttlng and asked him to serve at once
an attachment on Ovington Brothers. This at
tachment, as In New-York was in favor Of the
wholesale china and crockery firm Of George
Borgfeldt e. Co The Sheriff. accompanied by
Deputy Sheriff Moore, walked up to the Flat
bush-ave. store. and after waiting about two
hours for the senior member of the firm TO come
in served the writ on Charles X. Ovington one
of the younger members OF the firm. The young
man from the law office was urgent that the
writ be served post haste. and made several
wild assertions. one of which was that he feared
the firm would assign before the attachment
could be served. But Sheriff Buttling IS used
to that kind Of excitement, and very de-
lberate about the matter He had a slip ~
paper pasted each OF the outer doors. upon
which were written simply the words: CLOSED
TO take inventory" The Sheriff first made
known his mission to the young woman cashier.
She expressed no surprise at the Information.
The Sheriff told tn, manager Of the firm, Mr..
Edwards that it was unnecessary for the en-
ployes to be sent home, and that they had better
be put to work at once In taking the inventory.
This was done. The law OF attachment requires
the Sheriff to have an inventory taken within
five days. An hour or 40 later Theodore l. wv
ngton ca ne in and was closeted for long time
with his son. Charles X. Ovlngton, ana the
firms attorney Henry VI. Haviand
Admittance TO the store was denied 10 report
ers. The manager. Mr.. Edwards. said that IN,
formation would be given out to-day. ami
Charles X. Ovneton refused TO tax Botn ,he
latter and his father living at the Hotel ~.
George Brooklyn. where they left word with tne
clerk that they had gone OUT II reporters IN,
qured for them A Tribune reporter visited
Mr. Haviland. the lawyer. at his apartments
No 4SS Nostrand-ave., Brooklyn. he was very
cautious in speaking Of the case. but said tina!
he believed the firm OF BOrgfeldt * Co woud
learn that they had acted hastily before tney
had finished with the case
WAS this attachment based on a longstand'
ing Obligation" asked the reporter
mo; l understand IL WAS rece'' '''e
ton" he said -
was it the only credit held by this firm
against the Ovington Brothers!
Yes: | understand So.
Mr. Haviland said. in addition. that thers
was no occasion for the attachment ana tha'
he had no fear that there would be other AT.
tachments He refused 10 make statement
in regard 10 the financial condition OF the hrnL
II was said last night on good AUTH rity tnas
unless the plan decided upon by the hrm snouio
he changed. an application would be maze IN
the Supreme Court in this city to-day 10 nave
the attachment set aside.
The Ovington brothers proper are Theouoles
r and Edward j. Theodore is the president o,
the Brooklyn Croquet Club. and much deNo.ea
to the game. Edward J. passes most OF nus
time in Europe. where he now IL. Ch9ries N"
Theodore's son. has been taken into the h'' i
and Edward Ovington. jr. holds high place ia
the house.
FACTORIES CLOSED ~ WALTHiM