The Washington times., 1916-01-31
BANKRUPTCY SUIT
is FILED AGAINST
LEADBEATER &SONS
Oldest Wholesale Drug Firm in
United States Is Sued in
Alexandria.

ALEXANDRIA. Jan. 3l.-A petition
, IN Involuntary bankruptcy was filed in
the United States district court for the
eastern district of Virginia this morn
ing against the firm of f. s. Lead
batter & Sons. Incorporated, the Oldest
: firm of wholesale drugsists in the
, United States. The fling of the petition
was not surprise to many Alexan-
drians, as 1t had been known that the
, firm had been in financial troubles for
some time, and that there were num-
ber of claims against the company in
the hands Of local attorneys. A judg-
ment was secured against it in the
corporation court last week.
Th epetition for bankruptcy was filed
by Attorney Gardner l.. Boothe. rep
resenting three creditors. the First Ma
tional Bank of Alexandra, the Citizens
National Bank OF Alexandra, and w.
A. Smoot q Co., Inc. In the petition
it Is stated that the firm owes these
creditors about $40 600, as follows: First
Ma National Bank, unsecured notes, So
Citizens National Bank. unsecured
notes, $l2, 1885, endorsers on notes, sl6.-
0SL55 W. A. Smoot & Co.. unsecured
notes, &75; open account. $99.99.
The petition further states that jan
uary 10 the company. through its presi-
debts.
The firm was established in 1892, and
occupies the same place of business
where it was started Its officers are
clarence G. Leadbeater. preident: Ed
ward S. Leadbeater. vice president;
John Leadbeater, secretary and treas
urer. The company was incorporated
about ten years ago, and practically all
family.
Fire, which was discovered at $50
o'clock last night in the third story OF
the warehouse of f. 5. Harper. Inc.
wholesale grocers, in King street. be-
tween Lee and Union streets, caused
damage to stock stored in the building
of between 5000 and $1,000 and also
damaged the building and the adjoin-
inE structure, occupied by the Virginia
garage, to the extent of several thou
sand dollars. When the fire was dis
covered thick clouds of black smoke
the warehouse. The building had been
closed since Saturday afternoon Where
the fire began there was no material
of an inhammabe nature. the con-
lamp chlmneNS. ClotheSpinS. wooden
mop handles. etc. On the second floor
was stored carload of matches. but
only the top layer of boxes became
lgnited from the fire above. The sec
ond story also contained cereals and a
miscellaneous stock, and the first floor
Salt ana hSh.
After the department reached the
scene. water was poured into the third
story for more than an hour before any
flames were seen. The tircmen We're
unable to enter the building because or
The dense smoke When the garage ad-
Joining became ignited and it was seen
that the building owned b. the Brod-
ers estate was endangered the new
chemical and pumping engine was
called into service.
During the fire, Chief Robert +. Gro
nau. while climbing a ladder in the
elevator well of the Virginia garage
fell and was bruised and shaken up.
lie had to leave the fire, and &. j. w.
Summers, chairman of the fire COM
mittee of the city council, took charge.
Rosemont: was entered by burglars
last night and a breast pin valued at
$40 stolen. A quantity of silver ware
and other iewelry which were in sight
were not taken.
In police court this morning Charles
Byrd a colored boy. eleven years old.
was sent to the reform school for
stealing newspapers.
The Alexandria German Club will
give dance next Friday night at the
Flks' Auditorium, at which the mem
hers of the Alexandria assembly will
he its guests.
ARRANGEMENTS have been made for
special train to leave Alexandria to-
morrow night from King and Column
hus streets at 7:2j o'clock to convey
the members of St. MarYs Alumnae
and their friends to Washington. where
they will attend the performance at
Polls Theater
The Rectors' Aid Society Of st.
Paul's Church will give a supper in the
Parish Hall Thursday evening from G
to o'clock