Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1897-08-06
1ONT PHOENIX BRATFLEBORO, FRIDAY. AUGUST 6, 1897
AUSTIN E. M1L1ER's FAILURE.
lie Has Nominal Assets Of $4,000, with
Liabilities a Trifie Less---Store In the
Hands Of the Mortgages.

lie Has Nominal Assets Of $4,000, with
Liabilities a TrIne Less---Store In the
Hands Of the Mortgages.
Austin f. Miller, the wel-known con
fectioner and fruit dealer, has failed, but
his assets are about equal TO his liabilities.
The failure calls out expressions OF sym
pathy from all BrattleborO people, who
had hoped to see Mr.. Miller business Ell
forts rewarded by the success they de-
served. For some time it had been APP
parent to those having business transac-
lions with him that he was laboring under
difficulties, but no one doubted but that
he would pull through all right and none
of his creditors took legal action toward
collecting their dues, although some OF
them had made urgent requests for set
Element. Mr.. Miller saw what the result
of continuing in business would be and on
Tuesday lac surrendered the store to Chas
r. Crosby, Elijah F. Read and Geo. p.
Miller, mortgages of $500 on the stock
and fixtures, who took possession and
placed Sheriff +. A. Starkey in the store
as their agent. On Wednesday afternoon
Mr. Miller filed papers in insolvency. lbs
assets are nominally S50O0 the liabilities
being trifie less.
concerns whose claims are for amounts
ranging from 500 down. Those whose
claims are Ior 500 and over are: Clapp d
Jones, S17G the Farmers IL Mechanics
exchange, S147; Perkins q Hatch, Spring
field, Mass, SOL; Hill q Goldee, Boston,
Sal; Crandall IL Cooley Co., New York,
Sl29 Chase Co., Boston, Sl05; II. l."
Mudgett, Boston, S262; Lowell Brothers
IL Bailey, Boston, Sll0. secured by notes;
Bay State Confectionery Co., Cambridge
port, Mass, $751;; Crystal Confectionery
Co., Burlington, S270, secured by notes
signed BYE f. Read and g. p. Miller;
Lowe Art Tile Co., Boston, 500, lien on
soda fountain, and the mortgage of $500.
The assets are the stock in trade, fixtures
and furniture of all kinds valued at 5000,
upon which is the $500 mortgage; the
soda fountain valued at $780, upon
which is the lien of 500; horse, buggy,
harness. sleigh. robes, two express wagons,
etc. valued at 500, upon some of which
exemption from the action of law is claimed,
and $3.50 in book accounts, nearly all
collectable. The first meeting of the cred
itors is called for Aug. II. The cause OF
the failure is the falling off in trade, due
to the general business depression, without
a corresponding diminution in the expense
account.
Mr. Miller, who formerly worked in the
grocery store of Pulen Brothers, began in
the confectionery business in Harmony
block, in the store which was formerly the
Vendome, buying out f. l.. Batchelder in
1887. He built up large trade, adding TO
his confectionery and ice cream business a
wholesale and retail fruit business. In
1895, when the old b. y. Chamberlain
store became vacant he rented it for $40
| a year, and about the close Of the year he
moved into it. 1t is believed by many that
that is responsible for the present trouble,
as the increase in the retail trade was not
sufficient to pay the extra $500 to 800
rent, and the wholesale trade was not in
creased by the change in location. The
mortgage for $500 was put on to the stock
and fixtures after the change in location
was made, and it will hold good for its full
amount, notwithstanding the petition in
insolvency.