The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-07-13
HOW HE FAILED.
Manager L. NJ. CraWfOrd's
Struggle For Success.
"
For Years He Fought Agains t
Heavy Odds.
POOR RUN OF BUSINESS
People Would Not Attend The
ater When Times Were Hard.
Reasons Why the Amusement
King Owes $45O,OOO.

L. M. Crawford, who fled a petition
in bankruptcy in the United States dis
trict court yesterday afternoon, has
been known for several years as the
amusement king of the west. Whlle
Mr.. Crawford has resided in Topeka. he
has owned and controlled opera houses
in several of the larger cities OF the
west His name is well known TO All
theater goers, and probably no western
manager has wider acqoaln
among theatrical people.
It was largely through unfortunate
investments in opera house properties
that Mr.. Crawford met with the nnan-
cial reyerSes that caused MIN to become
so deeply involved. During much OF the
time in the past few years he mas
controlled and in most cases owned
theaters in Omaha, Lincoln NeD-, Kan
sas City, St Joseph, Topeka, LeaVen-
worth. Denver and Wichita He ran
them in an up-to- date manner, getting
the best companies he could secure for
the circuit but the hard times were
against the amusement business ana
the ventures were losing ones The
theatrical business is one IN when
money is lost at swift rate when the
investment does not pay
Mr. era WfOrd' s losses have practically
all been in. connection with the opera
houses that he has established, and the
claims against them are confined mostly
to the cities named
The larger claims which are unsecur-
ed are for the most part deficiency
judgments, caused by the depreciation
Of opera house property. The houses
which Mr.. Crawford has owned have
been turned in to settle the claims
against them but in most instances
there had been such a depreciation in
that line of real estate, as well as in
other lines, that the property WouId not
satisfy the mortgage.
The secured claims and their security
are as follows:
Tff1n Sinks, Leavenworth, a pronis-
= -
chase of the opera house, secured by a
first mortgage on the opera house IN
LeavenWOrth.
The Topeka Savings bank, 81, 150,
money borrowed, secured by cnattel
mortgage on the chairs. scenery and
properties of the Topeka Grand opera
house This property has recently been
the subject of a repleVin suit between
the bank and L. 3. Kendall of Denver
who now owns the Grand and the bank
Bank Of Topeka, one claim of $1,000
and another OF 81. 400, secured by second
MORTGAGES on the Crawford opera house
in Topeka The bank has taken the
Crawford to protect its interests.
The Northwestern Mutual Life Insur-
ance company OF Milwaukee, one claim
of $25, 900 secured by first mortgage on
the Crawford in Topeka. and another
claim of 81 900 secured by a first mort
gage on the Crawford fats on the cor
ner of Fifth and Monroe streets, Tope-
The list of unsecured claims is as fol-
lows;
IN TOPEKA
A T & s. F. railway, judgment in the
Shawnee county district court, for rail-
road tickets.
Central National bank, $4,000, judg-
ment in the Shawnee county district
court, on money borrowed
H H. Mills & Co.. promissory note for
81 200 for dry goods
Swift & Holiday, promissory note for
$500 for drugs ana paints.
w A L Thompson, promissory note
for $3.50 for hardware.
R. L Cofran, promissory note for $3.50
for iron work
Topeka state Journal. 500 for adver-
Using.