The herald., 1897-09-14
H. German Has Dropped
From Sight
AND HIS CREDITORS GRIEvE
HE FORGOT TO SETTLE BILLS
AMOUNTING TO $4,000
But Sends Word Back for His Credit
ors Not to Worry as He Will Re-
turn Some Day and Settle

H. Germain, the we'll known Spring
street druggist and for years poprietor
of the Dragon drug store, has shaken
the dust of Los Angeles from his feet
AS to the manner of his going little is
known and as to his destination even
less. Certain it is, however, that his
present whereabouts is matter of con-
siderable solicitude among a number OF
creditors. Immediately after his depar-
ture, when anxious inquiries were made
for him, Mr.. Germans son Frank, who
remained in the city, gave 1t out that his
father had gone to the mountains on a
hunting trip, but subsequent develop
ments would indicate that the hunting
had been left for the creditors to do.
The Germain family lived at the cor
ner of Grand avenue and Third street.
Two weeks ago yesterday, on the 3lst
ut, Mrs. Germain and one son, Harry,
who has been attending Harvard uni
versity, left for the east, the young man
returning for the fall term. Either the
same day or the day following Mr.. Ger
main disappeared. Attention was first
called to his departure when Mrs. John
Y. Orchard, who owns the building on
Spring street in which the Dragon drug
store Is located came to see about the
rent Mr.. Germain was not around and
W. E. De Groot was found in charge
| When Mrs. Orchard inquired for Ger
main she found that he had sold the
store to De Groot without mentioning
| the transaction to her.
| This seemed a little strange for several
reasons. In the first place, her tenant
| had often said that he would never sell
out without first consulting her, and also
| would make sure that she was satisfied
| with his successor. In addition to this
| the significant fact now stared Mrs. Or
| chard in the face that German was
about S1100 in arrears for rent, which
| she had allowed to run along, believing
| that he would sometime be able to
square everything up. Now that he had
sold the store without letting her know
anything about the transaction, Mrs.
Orchard decided to look her tenant up
as soon as possible and try to get set
| tlement out of him. She drove around to
where he had lived, but the man she was
| looking for could not be found. A woman
| answered her ring and stated that the
| Germain family had moved away. Later
| Mrs. Orchard met the son, Frank Ger
main, and questioned him as to the
whereabouts of his father. The replies
which she received were not very reas-
suring and she could learn nothing be-
yond the fact that her delinquent tenant
| had gone on hunting trip to the noun
| tains. When he would return or to what
mountains he had betaken himself were
| matters about which the son was not
explicit
Enough had been learned to convince
Mrs. Orchard that it would be we'll to
start an investigation. Besides the back
rent due Germain owed her $2500 bor
rowed money, for which she still holds
his note. She had always had the most
| implicit confidence in the man and when
| the money was loaned did not take
mortgage on his stock of drugs. These
have now been transferred and there
was nothing left upon which she could
levy. The stock had been sold. De
Groot was in possession and Germain
himself had disappeared.
The matter was laid before Mrs. Or
chard's attorney, Judge Cheney. He
made little investigation into the drug
mans transactions and found that his
! client was not the only pebble, so to
| speak, for there were others. In fact,
the investigation disclosed state of af-
fairs which would indicate that Germain
had carefully planned for several
months to leave his business in just the
shape he did. 1t was found that he had
been purchasing large quantities of
| drugs in eastern cities and had filled his
store with these goods bought on time,
| ranging from three to six months He
would order three and four times as
large quantity of some particular drug
as other houses here doing large busi-
ness would think of ordering. For in
stance, it was found that he was in
debted to one eastern house for whisky
alone to the amount of $500.
Locally it was found thai German had
paid up all his small bills with the great
est scrupulousne ess, overlooking only two
large ones, amounting to $4,000, due to
Mrs. Orchard, and another of $500 due
to F. w. Braun & Co. for drugs. Here
is shown how we'll the whole scheme had
been planned. If five bills can be found
in the state aggregating $500 against 4
man he can be declared nsolvent. Ger
main had taken care of this by leaving
only two unpaid bills so far as can be
learned. The amount of these cuts no
figure on the insolvency proposition 50
long as the required number is not to be
found.
The attorneys have made every effort
to find other bills in order that they
may begin proceedings against the stock
left behind, but thus far only the twl
creditors have turned up in the state
1t is different elsewhere, and bills from
outside the state have been pouring in
almost daily. 1t would seem that Ger
main purchased goods wherever he could
obtain credit. and so far the bills which
have come in from outside points viii
aggregate close to $4,000.
Whatever De Groot may know abou,
Mr.. Germans whereabouts. or what.
ever he knows about the transaction
he keeps carefully to himself AS to hi.
relations with the missing debtor he alb
solutely refuses to say anything. Out
side parties, however, express the opin
ion that from the nature Of De Groot'.
business other than that of drugs, he die
not purchase the store without having
investigated everything thoroughly.
Mrs. Orchard, who is a widow and tn,
heaviest creditor, is greatly worried owe