Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1902-01-25
A BUSINESS SENSATION
Stock Of the Martinsburg Tobacco
Co. is Gone.
ALSO Mr.. DAHL AND HIS GIRL

Less Than an hour-Some
Bought and Some Loot
ed the Place.
An empty and deserted store room,
with baffied creditors peeuing in
through the windows at the empty
boxes, is all that remains OF a hand
somely fitted tobacco store TO tell the
tale OF the most startling business
frauds in the histo nv Of Martinsburg.
The once well-stocked and parlor-li
storeroon OF the Martlnbsurg Tobac-
CO Company today looks like cyclone
had ssruck it, the proprietor Is in
parts unknown and numerous credit
ors. business, men hold in their poses
sion unpaid bills and the officers are
so hewildered by the suddeness OF 1T
all that they hardly know what to do.
Such is the situation and it all hap
pened In less than an hour.
TIE story of the whole affair faint
ed with bit of realsromance, seems
more like fiction than something that
really took place. The MartiEsburR
Tobacco Company started into the
wholesale and retail business in the
Grantham building, Public Square,
the first part of last November.
They started out as if they were 60
ing to be the real thing IN the to-
bacco business. sparing no expense
in fitting up their quarters and in
announcing to all the world the be-
ginning of the Martinsburg Tobacco
Company. Henry Dahl and B. A.
Richardson were the first proprietors.
Some of the staid experienced bust
ness men, IN fact many of them,
stood back and looked on in wonder
ment predicting an unhappy ending
for the firm. but the end came soon
er than manv expected.
Last week Mr. Richardson sold out
his interest in the business TO George
Keyton. The firm was then on its
last legs, with creditors clamoring for
Yesterday devised scheme to get rid
of the whole business and place sew
real hundre miles between himself
and Martinsburg. To get rid of Mr..
est in the business and then instruct
ed the clerk, Thomas.G. Flagg to close
it out at any price and to lose no time
it,
Buying and Loottng.
Following out his instructions Mr..
Flagg opened up the doors and an.
nounced that he was going to sell.
The news spread like wildfire and in
short space of time the store room
was crowded. The men intent on
getting bargains, men with a desire
to steal and some of the creditors I
the firm all fioeked into the room.
The clerk was soon bewildered and
anybody and every body crowded be-
hind the CONNER, filing their arms
with tobacco and cigars and walking
ont, some paving paltry sum for
nothing. 1t was case of grab for
what you wanted and pay what Won
wanted If you did not feel like pay
ing anything all you had to do was to
your hands on.
Business men who happened along
looked ON in amazement at the loot
ing of the Mace, men and boys stuff
ing their pockets with costly tobacco
and cigars. while some business men
Joined IN the push, grabbed up an
armful OF boxes of cigars, paid what
was asked for them an walked home
with enough tobacco and cigars to
last them for wear Some who had
bills against the Fl N were quick
wltted enough to ge' hold of enough
goods to balance their accounts. The
members of one firm who had sold
the stove for the stoie picked up the
stove and carried it out with the hot
Goals III it. Some brcnhgt in barrels
and boxes and filled them with what
ever they could get hold of. Even
the linoleum was torn off the floor.
The sale began at 8 80 and by thirty
minutes after six the room was lock
ed mp with nothing in it but empty
boxes and a National cash register.
Dahl Escapes.
While all this was going ON Hepry
Dahl, the PROPRIETOR, was sitting in