The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-06-13
WHERE is MR.. SMITH?
PROPRIETOR OF THE VICTORIA
TURNS Up MISSING.
Employees Bring SHIFTS for Wages Due
Mr. smith Left the Hotel Thurs
day and Melody Seems to Know
where He Is-Mrs. smith Refuses
20 Talk.

Through the fling OF numerous garnish-
ran- cases in justice courts yesterday AFT
ernoon by Attorneys r. r Booth and Ed
Hawkins. representing different employees
OF c z. Smith. proprietor Of The Victoria
hotel. frs; avenue, between Seneca and
University streets. an interesting story
came 10 light. and brought our the fact
that the people at the hotel are wondering
where. Mr.. Smith is keeping himself
Mr. Smith is well known in Seattle.
where he has in times past conducted the
Chamber OF Commerce restaurant, and
been one Of the proprielors OF the North
ern hotel.
Mr.. Smith sub-leased the Victoria hotel
from E Myers ard took possession May
IL He came here this tine from C3lltor-
MIA where il is said. he was steward for
some establishment. Prior 20 and during
the last session of the legislature ne was
proprietor OF the Olympia hotel at Oiym-
pta. Newspaper readers VIII recall that
Ia had business troubles al the capital.
and that John Leary. % this city, gar
nisaed some OF MIR. Smiths guests, incluc-
ing Senator Turner. on account or an oid
dent arising from Mr.. Smiths occupancy
OF rooms In the old Chamber OF Commerce
building. NJ the corner of Third avenue and
Marion street. This garnishment was FOR
$3.50 and il is only one instance of several
that bobbed up TO make the profits from
the hotel shrink rapidly. 1t Is not neces-
sary to go farther into Mr.. Smiths troa-
bles AT Olympia, because they were told IN
the Post-inteiligencer at the time.
After he took charge of the Victoria
hotel re did a good business. according TO
the statement OF one of the en-
the young man. the house has
been full almost every night. and on
several occasions the accommodations
have not been sufficient for the number OF
people applying for rooms.
So far as can be learned. things were
moving along smoothly until last Thurs
day morning. and even at that time the
horizon gave no indication OF an approach
Ing storm.
Mr.. Smith was around the hotel as
usual. and TO all appearances was in an
everyday sort of mood. NJ O'Clock he
said 10 d. r. Beernan the beliboy: Il
am going out" Then he walked leisurely
down First avenue. and that is the last
that has been seen Of him. The same
morning some one at the hotel inquired
for Mr. Smith. Beernan says that he
went TO Mrs. Smith. and she told him she
did not know where Mr.. Smith was. In
the afternoon Mrs. Smith according TO
Beerman asked him If he had collected
any bills. remarking that IL he did SO
she wished him TO give her the money. as
Mr. Smith might not be back until Sat
urday.
Friday passed. and still no word was re-
ceived from Mr.. Smith The cooks and
the walters and the chambermaids and
the bellboy. and in fact all the employees
got nervous about their wages Yesterday
the matter came to head when W. w.
Wright and W. J. Stewart, two of the
walters, put their case in the hands of
Attorney Hawkins. Both claims aggre-
gated $50 Suit was instituted late in the
afternoon in Justice Ingersolrs court and
garnishments were issued against many
of the guests of the hotel. While this was
going on. other employ ~ had employed
Attorney K. f. Booth to look after their
interests. He filed suits in Justice Nc
Curleys court. Columbia precinct, and
also fell back on the garnishment system.
The buzzing soon reached the ears Of f.
Myers from whom Smith had secured Ills
lease. Mr.. Myers did not want TO see the
guests put 10 serious inconvenience so he
took charge of the hotel and settled all
the cases.
a Post-Inteligencer reporter called at
the hotel last evening and requested an
interview with Mrs. Smith. She sent
down word that she did not care 20 see a
reporter. Mr. Myers was in charge of the
desk. and when asked il he could tell
where Mr.. Smith was. replied that he