The daily sentinel. [volume] (Grand Junction, Colo.) 1893-current, 1905-12-06
IN. BUNTING, Editor and Prop.
\ WELL KNOWN CONTRACTOR
LEAVES FOR PARTS UNKNOWN

' .
Building circles have been stirred
up the past few days over the report
ed disappearance of j. E. Mowrey, of
the firm of Mowrey and Kline, the
contractors, who have had the con-
tract for the building or the Odd Fell
lows hall and several other impor-
tant building contracts in the city in
the last few months.
Mowrey left here last Wednesday
night without giving anyone notice
of his going and to the present time
his partner or no one else has heard
anything of him. Since his disap
pearance there has developed much
that looks as if there had been a de-
ltberate attempt on the part of Now
rey. as the head of the contracting
firm to involve his firm in serious
complications. Checks of various
amounts were given by Mowrey in
the firms name for labor and mer-
ehandise on his bank. all or nearly all
of them being returned, marked mo
funds" His notes were not out the
banks, endorsed by several of the
most prominent merchants with
whom he did business, prominent
among them being p. A Rice, from
whom the firm was purchasing lum-
Der. OF course Mr.. Rice is secured
ny me Idtl tlat ne mas d iSsouis sc at
law in ming liens upon buildings Tor
which he furnished lumber and ma
terial, still II Is a matter OF great an
noyance to him,
The most serious complications
arose yesterday, however, when 1t
was ascertalneu that the soNefhhent
mad accepted the pa OF MoWrey q
Kline, Tor the improvements ABOUT
to be made at the indian school. sew
eral OF Grand Junction wen known
contractors had made Dids on the
work OF the government put MoWIey
q Kline plu was the lowest anu me
hrm was notihed by the government
few days ago that thelr bld mad been
accepted. According 10 the proVls-
ions OF the contract the government
demands from those blddlng, hVe
per cent OF the amount bid by any
firm to accompany the bld TO WASH
lngton. rms certlned check IS 10
warrant the government in, awarding
the contract TO responsible DID
der. In other words the contractor
would be able to give good and SUI
iicient bond Tor the taithful perform
ance OF the work.
The bid OF Mowrey Kline Tor me
work was approximately l,3Ou.
me amount OF the certlned check
which they were compelled TO send
was $500. To secure this check
they secured the endorsement OF VIII
liam Campbell and 10. II. Miller, 10
the Grand Valley National bank.
Yesterday at the instance OF the en-
dorsers to the note the bank wired
the government n protest on the
check, saying that 1t was obtained by
Mowrey by fraud and that they de-
sired 1t returned. when the gov
ernment received that notification
they at once wired superintendent
Burton of the Indian school to make
an investigation at once and write
them the full particulars of the cause
leading up to the telegram from the
bank. 1t Is said that the bank claims
that the certified check was obtained
by Mowrey on the premise that the
amount he was to bid for the work
was much less than he had bid and
| that his assertions to them were not
true.
The other bidders on the govern
ment work were John j. Lumsden
and w, c. Boyer.
| Mr.. Kline, the junior member of