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

ALEXANDRIA, Jan. a. 4 petition
! IN involuntary bankruptcy Gas fled in
Ehe United States district court for the
eastern district of Virginia this morn
ing against the firm Of E. S. Lead
batter & Sons. Incorporated, the oldest
firm of wholesale druggists in the
United States. The filing of the petition
was not a surprise to many Alexan-
drians, as It had been known that the
firm had been in financial troubles for
some time and that there were a num-
Der OF claims against the company in
the hands of local attorneys A judg-
ment was secured against 1t in the
corporation court last week.
tn 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 Alexandria, and w.
A. Smoot & Co., Inc. In the petition
1t is stated that the firm owes these
creditors about $4,000 as follows: First
National Bank, unsecured notes; &c.
Citizens National Bank, unsecured
y notes, $l2, ,i6S.50; endorsers on notes, $16,-
OSL55. w. A. Smoot & Co., unsecured
notes, 47o open account $S9.99.
The petition further states that jan
uary 10 the company, through its presi-
dent. admitted its inability to pay its
debts.
The firm was established in 1892 and
occupies the same place of business
where it was started. Its officers are
Clarence c. 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
OF the stock is held in the Leadbeater
family.
Fire. which was discovered at $3.50
o'clock last night in the third story OF
the warehouse of f. S. 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-
ing 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
were pouring from the third story OF
the warehouse. The building had been
closed since Saturday afternoon. Where
the t1re began there was no material
or an 1intiammable. nature, the con-
tents of this story being glass bottles,
lamp chimneys, 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 and fish.
After the department reached the
scene. water was poured into the third
story for more than an hour before any
flames were seen. The firemen were
unable to enter the building because OF
the dense smoke. When the garage ad-
joining became ignited and 1t was seen
that the building owned By the Brod-
ers estate was endangered, the new
chemical and pumping engine was
During the fire, Chief Robert f. Gro
nau, while climbing a ladder in the
elevator we'll of the Virginia garage,
fell and was bruised and shaken up.
He had to leave the fire, and &. j. w.
Summers, chairman of the fire COM
mittee of the city council, took charge.
The home of Jefferson Aitcheson. in
Rosemont: was entered by burglars
last night and a breast pin valued at
$40 stolen. quantity of silver ware
and other jewelry which were in sight
In police court this morning Charles
Byrd, colored boy, eleven years old
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
be its guests.
ARRANGEMENTS have been made fol
special train to leave Alexandria to-
morrow night from King and Column
hus streets at 7:25 o'clock to convey
the members of ST. Mary's Alumnae
and their friends to Washington, where
they will attend the performance al
Polls Theater.
The Rectors' Aid Society of St
Paul's Church will give supper in the
Parish Hall Thursday evening from
to s O'Clock.