The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-11-29
POWELL'S AGENCY
SOLD THE PROPERTY
ENTRUSTED TO IT,
klOndiker Nash Says He Fell Into
the Hands OF Eureka Collection
Agency, and He Claims to Have
Lost Shotgun by Trfckery.

j. Y. Nash. OF Evansville, Mimi. has
asked Chief OF PolicA Reed to help him
recover valuable shotgun which he al
leges the Eureka Collection Agency OBJ
tained for him from the Seattle Trans fer
Company ana then withheld, substituting
he claims. worthless old rattletrap.
1t turns out that Charles L. Powell and
Frank Grove, against whom d.sbarment
proceedings are now under way In the
superior court, are the leading lights In
the collection agency. If Nash's story
is true. they not only withheld his prop
erty, but also obtained money from him
as well.
Nash returned from Alaska on the
steamer Excelsior last September He
turned his baggage over to the Seattle
Transfer Company at the dock. and sew
eral days later. when he reclaimed IT,
says that his shotgun. which he valued
at 49, had been extracted from a roll of
bedding. He refused to accept his bag
gage without the gun or a reasona bic
recompense.
"As either was refused." said Nash in
his letter 10 Chief Reed Il reported the
matter 10 the police. and also placed the
matter In the hands OF an attorney firm
for representation as best they saw nt
They agreed 10 look 10 the transfer COM
pany for all costs. whether recovery was
accomplished or no;
These lawyers made no effort in the
matter at all but simply played for time
as they knew | would ne compelled 70
leave the city before the cheap rates East
expired Seeing that delay was danger
Gus. | took the matter up myself, going
direct to the transfer companys attorney.
Gen. Metcalfe, who promised to investigate
the case"
Nash says that through the generals IN
PREVENTION the gun was found and he was
requested 10 call at the office. He Gid
so and identified the gun. Continuing. the
letter says.
Il was on my way 10 the depot to leave
the city, and not having the check. which
vas in the attorneys possession. vas
not allowed to take the baggage. I left
instructions for them 20 deliver II 10 the
attorneys. whom | saw AZ The train. and
instructed iheul to forward il he next day.
As the gun did not show up I wrote them
inqusring the cause ~ the delay They
demanded sxtortionate charges or would
sell the gun"
According 10 MASKS statement lie sen.
the fun amount deTa nsiad IS the a&tor-
ncys and then. he says in his letter.
they substituted An old wreck OF
a gan hey had in their Office ard
delivered II % tne express company.
which was holding BE money The names
81 these lawyers are Charles r. Powell ana
Frank Grove, OF the Eureka Collection
Agency
Detective sam Corhett VAS instructed by
CAies Reed ID look Up the case las even
ing When seen by A Post-IntelliEencer
reporter Cerbett said
The gun was Sod 20 Ike Fl1owenfhai
for 80 - or a; east. shat "a wast hi .ou-
euthAl sass. ElocneGthsd has since SOLD
Il 70 another man WHO lives on the Grant
street bridge"
The frs; faing I rerns yub@r about The
case said netsctive Powers. VAS Ehen
Powell WAS ~ II stew about Some ona
stealing Nsss's goods out az MS ofnce.
liz thought taat one Of %aSas friends had
done Il The man really did have fhe
siuY. but ha gave Il eaek and Powell re-
9ased ~ prosecute