The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-02-28
HARRY oooMBE GONE.
But His Wife Has Faith That He Is
Not n Thief.

But His Wife Has Faith That He Is
Not a Thief.
Harry Cocmhe Is either a thief and a
blgarnist, or he Is victim of unfortunate
circumstances. and much nlsrepresented
man. Hard upon the receipt OF letter
BY III. c. Hills Il Co. the firm with which
he has been employed. stating that Coombe
has a wife and three children needing his
support in Plymouth. England. comes his
unannouncsd disappearance from the city.
together with SO OF the firms money, AMI
without a young lady whom he espoused
In Seattle in November. 1924.
Coomoe. who is member Of the PIyn-
outh Congregational church. and who has
always taken an active part IN the Chris
tan Endeavor societies. has been In the
employ OF II. c. Hills 4 Co.. commission
merchants on Western avenue and Madi-
son street. for some time. On Tuesday
afternoon the head OF the firm received
a letter signed by W. Coombe asking that
the young man be required 10 rstarn 10
Plymouth, England. and support a wife
with three children living there in destitute
circumstances. Hills took the letter TO W.
n Lewis. OF Green. Turner & Lewis who
nad always been warm friend of Coombe.
Lewis said there was no truth In the letter,
and recommended its submission to
Coombe. When the latter was allowed to
See the letter. he denied what was said in
one. with a desire TO do him HARM and eff
Feet his discharge. Hills who Is 4 quiet,
unaggressive man. allowed the matter 10
drop, ana as II was late in the afternoon
left the office in Coombe's charge, With
me safe containing so CIpea. When he re-
turned Wednesday morning the doors OF
the safe were still open, but the clerk and
the $40 were gone.
That is one side OF the story. Mrs. Har-
~ Coombe. when seen last night, threw 4
olHerent light on the matter. though she
could not explain the Disappearance OF the
W. Her story was substantially as tol-
lows:
II Is not true that my husband has a
WIG ana children in England. / know him
100 Wen. lie has two sisters and a BROTH
eF living IN Plymouth. The Oldest is Mrs.
EIzaheth Dunn, a widow with seven chill
ofen, and have seen a number of letters
from her. and his replies. When we were
married he sent her some money | was
with him when he purchased the money
order. his other sister. Ellen Maude
Cooinbe, had married when quite Young
ana had worthless husband. who left
her widow with three children. They
Were quite poor, but Mr.. Coombe did not
espond with his sister, as he was mad
at her marriage, considering Ii beneath
her His brother, Albert Coombe, is a
station master for some railroad there His
Aatiiei anu uiuLnrFs ne TOLD me, died long
ago The wife and three children they
speak of must be his other sister.
He came here in December, 1898, and
after an idleness of a month worked for
two months with the Cattle Hardware
Company. His next position was with
Hurd & Hill, now changed to II. c. Hill
Co. He did not work for them steadily
When Mr.. Hurd sold out his interest TO his
partner month ago my h-oand was en-
gagged to work until another partner bought
an interest in the business. / do not know
what the new partners name is, but when
Mr.. Coombe came home Tuesday night
he told me he had been told by Mr.. Hill
that the new partner would come in on
the next day. a1y husband, during his In
tervals of idleness. had done some col
leeting and selling for a millfner, and he
said he was going to call on him that even
ing. get some samples and take the King
stoa for Victoria at 10 O'Clock. That is
the last have heard from him, but will
get a letter in few days. she added.
confidently.
During Harry Coombe's residence in the
city he has made many friends. who concur
In thinking him a bright, honorable young
man He was devoted worker in the
Mis- Florence Priest and made her his
wife. She was naturally feeling far from
happy last night, but her confidence in her
husbands integrity. together with the
young mans good reputation in Seattle.
lead his friends to hope that appearances
have wronged him.