The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-02-20

Of William whiteley, "the universal
provider," who was shot to death II
his great department store after q
private interview with young mar
claiming to be his son, is that OF
man born and bred on farm, but
whose exceptional native abilities
brought him 10 a high pitch Of success
In the business world The names OF
many English firms are known all over
the globe, but In this case 1t was the
individual who had gained wide fame,
and William Whiteley came 10 be re-
garded rs the very embodiment Of all
that was enterprising in his own do
main Of commerce. II was MS boast
that he could supply anything ordered
at his establishment, and many We're
the attempts made to challenge the ac-
curacy Of his statement An elephant,
a secondhand coffin. and, most Curl
Gus Of all, a pint OF fleas were among
the goods he was called on to pre-
vide. and in each case the crder was
duly filled Il don't say the ileas We're
In stock" he would say when interro-
gated on this point, "but they We're
procured"
When as lad he came from York
shire to London 10 seek his fortune.
whiteley did not even have ten
pound note at his command. After
gaining experience as drapers as
sistant, he rented small shop, en-
gagged two young lady clerks, and in
1863 took down his shutters. The first
to enter the shop was a lady. Am
your first customer" she asked, You
are, madam" replied the young trades
man. The lady thereupon suggested
that she might offer UP prayer for
the success of the business. and II was
thus that the great house of Whiteley
was founded About this time White
ey formed an intimacy with George
Rayner. a young financial agent a
friendship which had for its tragic
sequel the death OF Whiteley, for it
was Rayner's reputei son, Horace
George Rayner, who committed the
the crime and who claims that his real
name is Cecil Whiteley and that the
victim was his <a.hfr. Young h1yner
raeusea TO go into particulars pending
his araignment, but an old friend of
the elder Raynpr anl of Whiteley has
thrown some light on the mystery. He
relates that many years ago Whiteley
and Rayner were acquainted with two
young ladies (sisters), and the two fr~
quently went to Brighton together to
visit the girls Ii was over this ac- |
quaintanceship that a quarrel arose
ana brought the friendship Of the two
men 10 an abrupt end. An accusation
by Whiteley against Rayner led to a /
threatened suit for slander, but the
matter never came into court. "The +.
exact nature of h quarrel i ttpl ~s,7S !
to state in plain words says the old
friend of the principals. Suffice 1t to
say that Rayner threatened Whiteley
with an action for slander in respect
of a charge which the latter made
against one of the young ladies and
Rayner l DO not know exactly what
connection this may have with the
claim the murderer is said to have
made that his name is Cecil Whiteley,
but it may have been that when ne
called on Whiteley he threatened him
with some disclosure in connection
with the old scandal | refer to-"
Whiteley's attorneys deny that any
such person as Cecil Whitley exists.
The family, they declare, never heard
Of such a person as the assailant made
himself out to be. They are entirely
ignorant of the motives which actu-
ated the commission Of the tragedy /
The police have possession Of e pack
age Of documents found in Rayner's
rooms which, it is believed, relate to
the hidden story, but, Of course, they !
will be withheld from the public until |
Rayner Is put on trial, So far the only |
clew is a slip of paper found on Ray !,
ner after his attempted suicide on !
which was penciled the following dec
laration: "To All Whom I May Con- |
cern-William Whiteley is my father, |
and has brought upon himself ami me
a double fatality by reason Of his own
refusal Of a request perfectly reason
able.-R. I. p"
Princess Trixie disappointed King
Edward and the royal household by
failing to respond to a summons tol
appear at buckingham Palace and dis