The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-12-15
Nook Auction st0res-Peter Funks-In-
crease OF Fraud and Raseality-Expose of
RoGues and ROguery.

thrOplsts that greater offences the decrease
yet if they will turn their eyes about town they
will find that knavery and fraud never ourshed so
as at the present period. The recent
expose of the combined gangs OF swindlers that
have preyed upon the business part of our commu-
nifty, made in this paper yesterday morning, has
opened the eyes of the public ito their arts and
practices, and the meeting of those swinded and
others interested to be held at Colyer's Saloon, in
the Exchange, on Wednesday afternoon of next
week, at half past three o'clock, will produce such
results that will make New York too hot to hold
these knaves and their.confederates.
There are another class of rogues in this city,
however, whose vile practices and swindling opera
tons, although often exposed, yet are continued
daily in the open face Of the whole community,
daring even the laws and its administrators. We
mean the dsns occupied in many Of our principal
business streets as mock action stores. From the
fact that the District Attorney, Mayor, and Police
Justices have publicly avowed that they can find
no law TO cover the swndling and fraud daily prac-
tsed by these men, their establishments have
sprung up like mushrooms in every populous street
of our city, and their infamous system of swim
ding is practsed with impunlty.
The managers are generally men of some little
capital, sufii cient, perhaps, to secure the payment
Of the monthly rent Of some store in prominent
public place, which being engaged they bring about
them some half dozen shrewd, ready, lazy, worth
less, Characteress fellows, who engaged as cap
pers in, or assistants, and who are technically
known in the business, "Peter Funks." A
counter is raised in the store-several old silver
watches are purchased at some pawn brokers' sale,
or elsewhere-some penknives on cards-a large
quantity of brass rings, thmbes scissors, needles,
watch keys and seals, &c., with few yards OF
black or blue cloth-one or two opera glasses, and
other fancy articles, the most costly of which are
displayed upon the counter The whole front OF
the store is generally SO constructed as TO allow IT
all to be thrown open, the top of which is darkened
smuch as possible, to prevent exposure; and all
other matters being arranged the band OF swinders
commence operations with the pretended auction
eer behind the counter, mallet in hand, and the
as purchasers The cloth is prominently displayed,
well as the watches, opera glasses, knives, nc,
and the brass rings, watch keys breast pins, thim-
ble., needles, and other smaller articles, number
ing, combined, from one hundred to five hundred
different pieces, are deposited in box, which is
also placed on the counter in the midst of the be-
fore mentioned more valuable articles. The work
then commences as follows
Mock AUCTIoNEER.- they goes, gentlemen,
one and SIX, one and seven, one and elght-just-a-
going-here they goes tor almost nothing-going,
going, gone at one and eight-going. going-this
will never do-such sacrifice-(in an under tone
"Look out there boys-keep one eye out o'doors
for countryman, )-going, golng-(watch close,
look sharp)-soing. going, at one and eight-(skin
your eyes boysl-going, gong-(here comes a fell
green)-at one and eight this whole piece of blue
black cloth, two watches, ana all this lot, going,
going, at one and eight-(he's coming in boys, be
ready)-at one and eight, going, going, all this lot
cheap dirt, going, going.
The cOuntryman here enters.
AUcTIoNEER.-Going, going-all this lot for one
and eight pence piece only-zgoing, going.
FUNK.-What sacrifice; wish had the money
why, the cloth alone is worth twenty times the
amount
Acknowledging, going, at one and eight
the last bid, gentleman, and the last lot, at one and
elght-going, going.
ANOTHER FuNK-Great bargain for any one
what's got money. The watches alone are worth
the money.
AucrIoNEER-Goi ding, going-I can't dwell gentle
ANOTHER FuNK-(stepping up to the country
man)-That's a great bargain. I've got little
money and if.you'll bid, I'll take half the lot.
AUCTIoNEER.-Gong, gong-come, come gentle
men, I'll sacrifice no more-this is the last lot to-
day-going, going, at one and eight pence piece
Tor the lot-going, going.
CoUNTRyMAN.--(Cl CLOSING up to the counter)-how
AUCTIoNEER.-One and eght-one and the last
call-one and eight pence a piece for the lot-going
gong.
ANOTHER FuYK.-such bargain-I wishes had
means-'twould never pass me no how, any way.
AUCTIoNEER.-Going, going, last time, gentle
man, going, going.
SECOND FUNK. I'll take half the bid any way
if had money I'd ask nobodyto interfere. :,
Acknowledging, going-gentlemen, last call
here they go, at one and eight-going at one
and
CONTAMINATION and nine.
AUCTroNEER.-One and nine-gOne at one and
nine-they're yours, sir What'sthe name! Please
| to walk in the back room, and we ii make you out
a bill at once. It's great bargain, sir, cheap as
dirt, You're lucky man. :,
The countryman and auctioneer retire into the
back room while the Funks keep close watch on
the outside. The auctioneer then commences to
count the articles, beginning with the remnant OF
cloth for one; watches, three; opera glass, four;
| card Of Knives OF twelve, making twenty; and then
to the astonshment and surprise OF the countryman,
| he commences at the box filled with smaller ar
tcles, such brass keys, rings, thimbles, &C., &c.
which he takes out deliberately, until he makes up
| a complement Of from four hundred to a thousand
separate articles, which are set down In the bill at
one shilling nd nine pence piece, and amounts
from ss25 to 500. The countrynan is perfectly
astounded-begs to be let off from the bargain, as
he did not understand tasks to be excused-says
he hasn't money enough to pay, and sometimes has
courage, enough to avow that he has been
cheated. At this point the Funks gradually
enter the room-the countryman is question
ed as to how much money he has about
him and If it is ascertained that he can raise
from S25 to $50, or even more, they make COM
pro 1lse-take al! ne has-glve up part OF the LOT
the least valuable, and agree to let him go if he
will call at another day and pay the balance; He
then leaves the premises completely heeced, per-
haps of his last dollar, and salies out with the box
lot under his arm worth about eighteen pence, in
search of some customer or friend TO console him.
He ls sometimes directed 10 the police office and
makes application to the sitting magistrate for aid,
but he Is very good naturally told that New York
State has law TO punish such rascality, but if he
feels disposed TO engage an officer he may be ena.
bled to get his money back An OFFICER is selected
who makes bargain to be paid certain share, IT
successful, when application ls made to The rogue
who keeps the establishment, who sometimes,
from fear of exposure in the public press or arrest,
and after trouble, pays back part, and the coun-
tryman willing to take any thing, gives the ofhcer
his demand and makes himself scarce; but ever at
ter pricks up his ears like frightened horse when
ever he hears those portentous words "going, 60
ing, gone, gentlemen"
| The following are among the many persons whose
names we have registered who have been thus rob-
| bed by these swindlers who nfest city, and l,
| is somewhat strange that nine out of ten are from
that region of our country that claims, and is gene