The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-27
A Transaction in Which
Merchants Proved eau
tiouS.
Why Large Consignments Were
Intercepted on the Steamer
Protection.
The Samuel M J-hnston Company
Dissolved and Vanished With the
Sudden Discovery.

In certain mercantile circles there have
been considerable speculation and COM
ment over the last transaction Of the
Samuel NJ. Johnston Company, through
which the company went to pieces in re-
markable hurry. The Johnston concern
was engaged in commission bust ness, with
offices at 421 Market street, but two weeks
ago, at O'Clock on a Saturday afternoon,
the offices were vacated. The furniture
and fittings were moved out 'in a hurry"
as the janitor of the building said, and no
notice was left behind to inform people
having dealings with the company whittier
it had taken itself
Inquiry at the building was met with
the unsatisfactory response, Don't know
anything about them. Many people have
called here looking for information, but
nobody seems to know where The COM
pany went. No address was lett. The
company got out of here suddenly Satur-
day afternoon"
The last deal OF the concern involved
about $4,000, but it was not successful
one, and it practically put an end to john
ston's business ventures. About Deem
Der l the Johnston Company ordered
merchandise from different local houses
could be learned, to $4,000.
The merchandise was for Bay City, Or,
and the value OF the goods shipped on the
steamer Protection December II was
about $1,000. But they never reached their
destination, for the developments of day
or two after the goods left port on the
steamer were of such a nature that
stopped delivery. When the Protection
put III at Jacksonville, Or, there were
verious dispatches from San Francisco in
tercepting the property and instructing
the purser to hold it at Bay City pending
further directions from the shippers.
One of the heaviest shippers was Till
mann & Bendel, the wholesale grocers,
whose manager explained the transaction
yesterday.
"Mr. Johnston came to u.s." said he,
with ali order for goods. He stated that
the goods were for lum ber- hill, and he
would call with check for payment the
day after the steamer sailed. The check
did not come that day, nor the next day,
and we telegraphed to hold the goods.
Johnston made some arrangement with
Charles Kimball, who started lum ber-
mill at Bay City, so we were given to
to this City, and in return Johnston was to
supply him with supplies for his store
Johnston gave out that the goods were
wanted at once, and he could not possibly
have money until at best the day after the
Protection sailed. Then, he said, he would
come with a check, and so the goods were
sold for cash.
houses had filled orders for the Johnston
company, but these tran sactions sll ended
alike
The Samuel NJ. Johnston Company was
incorporated in January, 1892, and among
its directors were S. w. Fuller. furniture.
manufacturer, and L. d. Shattuck, the
Front-street merchant, who took one
share each of $50.
1t did not do any business worth while
and went by the board. Meanwhile John.
ston, the chief mem Der, engaged in com
mission business on his own account
doing business under his own name.
About Jour months ago he revived the
corporation, though the two prominent
men named took no part in its proceed.
ings, of which they had no knowledge.
Offices were taken at 421 Market street
and the concern was ready for business as
manufacturers agent on o cretentious
scale. Things went along until the recent
deal with the Bay City people, Then
creditors in town sought for informatlo
from the mercantile agencies, and as the
result they refused to deliver goods
shipped to Oregon.
Johnston had an interview with the
manager Oh w els. Fargo O. 70. BANK q
few weeks since. He explained that one
member of the com pany. E. P. Rowe, had
taken 1000 shares and that he himself had
5000 shares. Rowe. lie added, was daily
expecting SIC. 900 from the East as money
due in some kind OF family legacy or the
like.
These representations appeared salts
factory and a handbook was gwen to the
company. The bank, however, made an
in VI tiuo inp 70 inf nd "a
Johnston Company made no deposits, nor
secured any accommodation from the
bank
Some time ago Johnston was engaged in
the insurance business and became in
volved. and tue heaviest loser was Brown,
Craig & Co., who still hold claims for
some thing like $1,000. The merchants
who shipped goods ordered by Johnston
to Bay City were deeply annoyed over the