Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-08-05
SUES FOR DAMAGES
A New Turn In the North
western Felt Shoe Com
pany's Affairs
THE PATTERNS ARE MISSING
Alleged Attempt on Part of Mackown
and Others to Conceal Valuable Pat
terms and Samples-St. Paul Parties
Want to Get the Concern Located
There.
special to Times Republican.


Special to Times Republican.
Webster City, Aug. 5.-An action for
$4,000 damages has been brought IN
the Hamilton county court as a result
Of the trouble between the Northwest
ern Felt Shoe Company and their for
mer manager, George Mackown. Con-
spiracy, attempt to defraud and lar
ceny of sample trunk are charged
The suit is brought against Messrs.
Mackown, Tracey and Copenhall by tao
Northwestern Felt Shoe Company, OF
this city. Mackown was the former
manager of the unfortunate concern,
Tracy was one of their travelling men,
and Copenall was q foreman. Tracy
and CopenaIl were served with the
papers in the suit last Friday when
Tracy was in the city. Mackown mas
not been served as his Whereabouts are
unknown.
The suit is the elimination of the
trouble which has arisen between the
felt shoe company and their manager,
travelling representative and foreman,
after the big fire which destroyed the
manufacturing plant In this city, with
such heavy loss. The trunk and SAM
pies in question, were those carried by
Tracy when on the road for the shoe
company. After the destruction of the
factory the travelling men were notified
by wire and instructed to return to the
city and await further developments
with regard to the restarting OF the
concern. Tracy was one of the first Of
the men to get back to the city.
1t is claimed that he held confer
enec with Mackown and then attempted
under his instructions to get his sam
pies out of the city. and In place
where the felt shoe directors could not
lay their hands upon them. Tracy
promptly followed the directions OF his
former manager and shipped the sam
piles to Eagle Grove to allay any sus-
picions that might arise. he then went
to Eagle Grove and reshipped TIE
trunks and samples to st. Paul. IL IS
claimed that Mackown, Tracy ana
Coppenall were in deal to form
stock company in another city and
wanted the samples which would De
extremely necessary In such case.
The directors of the Northwestern
Felt Shoe Company, claim that II Was
the intention Of the three men against
whom the suit has been brought, 10
transfer the business OF the local con
Germ to the new one to be organized
elsewhere. Il
Tracy appeared before committee
of business men in st. PAU ana sIo"eu
the samples which were the property
OF the Webster City company: Mac
kown had agreed to be present at TINS
meeting in st. Paul, but he 1alied 10
mt in an appearance, and Tracy was
left 10 handle the deal acne. lie maue
a yery good representation, and the 81.
paul business men were greatly inter-
ested in the enterprise. A few Gays
later a rich old Scotchman by the name
of Robbins came from st. Paul to this
c,tN under the guise Of living at Des
Moines.
He represented that he had come to
Webster CITY on behalf OF the insur-
ance Companies that held policies on
the destroyed manufacturing plant.
Look Up Mackown.
| Mr. Robbins made thorough eA-
animation into the affairs of the COM
many and the conduct IF MackoWn. he
returned to st. Paul with a poor opln-
| ion of Mackown as the superintendent
of their contemplated factory, but vain
the highest possible one of the DUST
ness.
ON Saturday morning Scotchman
Robbins. the wealthy St. Paul man.
also appeared in the city and he anc
Tracy first attempted to throw scare
info the directors of the local company
Inv saving that they were gong aheao
with their new company anyway ana
that il would be more pleasant Tor the
local concern If the Northwestern
company would lay down and sell them
| their patterns and patents at reason
able price. The grand-stand play OF
scotc.,man Robbins did not have much
effect for he was informed that the
business men of Webster City were not
ready to be bulldozed out OF their rlgnt
thru the treachery Of their former EN-
,,loyes. and notice of the suit for Slo,-
oo0 was Immediately served upon
Messrs. Tracy and CoppenaH, who hao
,lso heen in ST. Paul In conference
with the outsiders.
Where is George MacRown! since
the night that Tracy left here to follow
the sample trunk to st. Paul no woro
has been received from Mackown.