The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-10-24
RUSH. OF PATRONS JAMS. STORE Grand Rapids Co. Faces Horde of Irate Customers
 From Many Towns POLICE TO PREVENT
 REMOVAL. OF GOODS Agent of Concern Under Ar rest In Meriden, Pend
 ing a Settlement

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 The Grand Rapids Furniture & Supply Corporation on Fairfield ave- nue were forced to temporarily close their doors this morning, following a jam of customers who found difficulty in selecting their furnitur A con- ference with Prosecuting Attorney Alexander Delaney and Charles Sha- piro, attorney for the furniture con- cern followed in which 1t appeared that the business of the company ex- tended to the outermost bounds of the State of Connecticut. As all the sam pie furniture could be plainly marked within a few hours, so that the pa irons from Meriden, WaIIingford, Idtchfeld3 Greenwich and other places mi ght not be inconvenienced the doors were allowed to be open again at 2:S0 o'clock.
 In Merfden, where an agent of the company is under arrest pending a settlement between the company and the prosecutor which will insure Meriden patrons of getting values, the iden city court.
 Mayors, prosecuting attorneys, con- stables from almost every city or town in the county are today cIamoring for radical action against the concern in this city.
 When the order for closing was am nounced before the Fairfield avenue store today, between fifty and one hundred patrons were tanning the interior of the store, while upon the sidewalk an equal number pressed against the plate glass doorway in their efforts to get in. first. With thirteen clerks upon thes floor the customers could not be cared for.
 Prosecuting Attorney Delaney took charge of the situation in person and Superintendent Birmingham was called upon to place police guards at the back and front of the offices and storeroonns, with orders to pass no truck-loads Of goods from within un- less accompanied by individual ship ping receipts showing that the arti- c1es were to be delivered directly to customers. It was also ordered that upon the re.opening today a regular detail of uniformed policemen were to be in attendance to keep the crowds in single line, only permitting as many customers in the store as there were clerks to attend to them, and that none should be admitted until an equal number had come out
 It was also agreed that signs should be displayed in the windows and in- side the store to the effect that all contracts would be redeemed at face values.
 Prosecutor Delaney said that he would peG1n6t no goods to be sent c. o. D. and that no demand could be made upon customers for payment of the difference between the face value of the contract and the original maxi mum value of ST. 50. Although the company announced that it proposed to continue an installment busiEess, the local authorities denied that they would again be permitted to operate upon the club plan.
 The enornity Of the business which had been done throughout the state only became apparent today when GUS toners from Greenwich, WaIlingford, Litchfe1d, and other outlying districts clamored at the local doorway. Con- tracts numbered as high as 5000 were seen. and the average paid in was slightly in excess of $10.
 While complaint was common that extremely low values were offered for the cash already paid on contracts, the local prosecutor said that unless clear fraud in distributing goods was shown no civil action could ensue This decision rests on the principle store at nine cents while another charges 15 cents.
 Representatives of the local company today denied that they were directly connected with any other concern in the state or that they had offices in other cities. They at first attempted to deny that an agent had been ar rested in Merfden, but this fact was later admitted by their attorney who stated that they were represented gen eralIy throughout the state by agents selling from catalogue, the goods be- ing shipped to distributing points in carload lots.
 As the store opens this afternoon every article will be plainly marked with the price---high or low---and the