The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1897-12-10
A BUSINESS MIDDLE
A Feed Store. Recently Opened Here
Closed.
MAY MEAN THE "PEN'
IL Things Are Not Soon Cleared Up--Nr
Word From the Absent PrOprie-
tOr-Creditors Become
Anxious.

Last Saturday attachment papers
were served on the Casmire Flour
and feed store and goods were hauled
away to satisfy debts. Charley Perk-
ms, the clerk, is still in possession of
the remains, but they are hourly
dwindling away. No word has been
heard from the absent proprietor,
Fred Casmire, and the outcome is a
matter of uncertainty. 1t is a very
unbusnesslike muddIe to say the
best, and it may turn out to be pen
itentiary Offense, TO say the worst.
1t seems that Casmire had obtained
several car loads of flour and feed
from the Excelsior Water mills at
Burlington and put the stock in here,
to sell on commission. Soon after
wards, Mr.. l.. NJ. Harding came here
and went into partnership with Cas-
mire but soon withdrew and opened
up feed store on West Madison ave-
nue.. Casmire sold considerable -four
and feed and so far as we can learn,
made no payments to the company.
He also contracted debts around town
for an over coat at Anderson & De-
Clute's, suit of clothes at Gus Kran-
nich's and numerous minor debts.
The middle of last week Harding
was called home to Nevada. Mo-, by
the sickness of a child and Casmire
went to Webb City, Mo, for a visit
with his grandfather.
Up to this point nothing was wrong
apparently, but some. of the creditors
became anxious and the report was
circulated that Casmire had skipped.
Saturday afternoon and today three
attachments were filed and levies
made on the stock. Anderson 81 De-
Clute, Krannich, and Miller Bros,
the prOprietOrs of the feed mill sOut b
of town were the attaches for Sl3 90
$1,000 and $3.50, the last for a
bill of feed at Harding's store.
In each case flour was taken.
The Milling Company telegraphed
r. H Bennett that the stock was
theirs and instructed him to inform
the creditors. Fennett did so and
now the legal side of affairs seems to
be- about as follows: The attachments
invalid if the Company wants the
flour; il it doesn't want it, the flour is
sold to the men who attached and
hey can be sued and collected from.
So far as young Harding is concern
ed, papers were signed between him
and Casmire, dissOlving partnership
and he contracted no outside debts.
Casmire, however, is in bad pre-
dicament. The fact that he owes
numerous bills around town is the
least of his troubles. His failure to
pay the Milling Company all but his
commission on his sales, is called
embeZzlement The amount concern
ed is several hundred dollars and con-
viction means a term in the peni-
Tertiary. This would be a heavy
penalty for what his friends insist
was not wiful crime, but ignorance of
business affairs. His visit to his grand
father was perhaps made in the hope
of getting money to square the account
due the mills, and many people here
hope that it was merely another case
of youthful extravaganza and ignOr
ance and not an intentional wrong.
Every thing however rests in the
hands of the Excelsior Company and
they have the power to convict of
embodiment or dismiss upon pay
ment in full. What they will do, we
cannot say, but we still hope that all
will be settled amicably.