The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-09-26


Standard Watch Company, with an office
in the Boston block. corner Of Second ave-
nue and Columbia streeE. has been 2osent
from his place OF business for two weeks.
and numerous persons who have sent him
money for handsome gold-plaied
watches" they have not received. are de-
sirous Of locating him.
Mr.. Billmeyer IS a nice-looking man
aged about 30 years. He dresses well.
talks well. ard has no trouble in working
up business. II the stack OF letters found N
his office last evening may be taken as
criterion. Two months ago he appeared
In Seattle and rented room No. In the
Boston block. Then he got a desk. a
showcase and a large amount Of station
cry. His letter-heads read as follows:
office OF the Union Standard Watch co.
Main offices: Cleveland Chicago and San
Francisco. VI. Schaurveker president; a.
Norland secretary; II. Billmeyer, mana
ger"
He had quite a stock CT ladies and gen
tlemen's plated gold watches, and appeared
10 be doing a rushing business The
amount of mail and express company let
tiers. containing money, that came 70 him
was astonishingly large. About two weeks
ago he suddenly disappeared and the Of
fee boy was kept busy for two or three
days answering questions as TO what had
become OF niin- iIaltE Ait bos WIN
away also and the office was locked up.
Since that time there has been a continual
rush of mail and anxious people. who
would like to know when they are going
20 get one of those handsome gOld-plated
watches"
Yesterday the Gem Printing Company,
one OF Billmeyer's creditors. placed its ac-
count in the hands Of Attorney Melvin g.
Winstoek. Attachment papers were sworn
out. and now Constable Nelson is in
charge of the relics that were found in Mr..
Billmeyer's office
When the office was opened large
stack OF unopened letters many of which
probably contain money. was found. There
We're also a desk. a showcase and large
amount of writing material. In the show
case We're seven gold-plated watch cases
and one lady's gold-plated watch. The
desk contained numerous letters. many Of
which were TO this effect:
II have not received the watch yet. al
though / sent you 1915 according to agree
ment."
There were also many letters and tele-
grams from person signing his name as
Albert Push" who evidently acted as an
agent for Mr.. Bllmeyer. Judging from
the tenor OF the kilograms Mr.. Push was
frequently pushed for money.
The system upon which Mr. BIllmeyer
worked was revealed by a card. around the
edges Of which were a lot of figures, rep
resenting and 10-cent purchases. The
total value of these numbers was equal to
$. Under the top row Of figures appeared
the following notice;
Always bring this card, and when your
purchases amount TO s. You will be en-
titled 10 one elegant gold-plated lady's or
gentlemans watch, worth 80 at the Jew
elry store, finished in the latest and most
modern style and an accurate time-keeper,
by paying S..
At the lower part OF the card. Just above
the row of figures appeared the follow
ing:
Special Notice.-Remember we make
this offer 10 advertise the superiority Of
our watches. Instead of spending thous
sands Of dollars in newspaper advertising
we give the customers OF this dealer the
benefit. In order TO get the watch you
must bring this card 10 our office with the
amount punched out and indorsed by this
dealer The Union Standard Watch Co.
main office. Chronicle building, San Fran
cisco; branch office, room ? Boston block,
Seattle"
The key to the situation is shown In the
recurrence of the word dealer" In one
place II says. I'VE give the customers Of
this dealer the benefit" and in another.
Bring the card with the amount punched
out and Endorsed by this dealer on the
card which was picked UP al random APP
peared the name OF a wellknown Port
Townsend dealer in groceries.
Letters indicated that Mr.. Biilmeyer had
placed these cards at various stores and
saloons In Everett Port Townsend. Mount
Vernon and other cities within radius OF
seventy-flve or eighty miles of Seattle.
one saloon man said that he would not pay
any attention 10 the cards unless he re-
ceived the watch and punch" This indi-
Gated that Mr. Billmeyer was in the habit
Of giving dealers a sample watch and a
punch as a part Of the programme By
which his watches were TO be advertised.
The amount OF mail that came pouring
into the office OF the Union Standard
Watch Company and the number OF peo-
pie who called proved that the business
worked up well Suddenly IN the midst OF
the excitement Mr. BiIlmeyer went away,
and has not been heard Of since although
some OF the people who watched him close
iv in his business methods are inclined 70
tht. opinion that he went 20 Spokane. A
well-known local insurance man knew o.
Mr. Billmeyer in the East. and was sus-
picIous that something not altogether cred
table would develop ont Of the new en-
,erprise" Mr.. Bllmeyer is credited with
being a smart man. with 8 fOndness for
wine and for the fair sex.