The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-11-15
Life In Now York.

MOST EXTRAORDINARY MOCK AUCTION CA5E-lIoRE
LAW WANTED.
Notwithstanding the frequent exposures OF Fraud
prsctised by the meek AuotioneeIs and Pes- Funks.
sc published in ths public newspapers, cautoHing
the unsuspectng strangers visiting the metropolis
on business, from entering the shops Of these svind
Iers yet in the face Of al the caution tho verdant
strangers induced to speculate in the infstuation
of buying bargains at auction, believing that arti
ces thus purchased must be cheap. Not understand
ing the combin alton Of the various proprietors Of
these shops, aided by conspiracy of mock bidders,
or they are termed, "Peter Funks," the stranger
does not find out hs mistake until he hos been di.
vested of sum averaging from fifty to hundreds Of
dollars
In this vile system of mock auction, sanc-
toned to extent not very creditable to the
police authorities new feature has beon displayed
Of late in which the duped countryman is not only
made to pay more than three times the value of an
article denomnateda gold watch but after being thus
defrauded accomplices, lowering in and about these
shops follow up the stranger to his hotel and there
in another form Of false representations defraud
him out Of the purchased property, leaving him no
evidence or value whatever for the sum Of money
already paid out.
We must confess that in relating this case we
almost repeat the story often given before, but
unless we do 80 we sh all not be able to Introduce
the species of robbery, and make it ineligible
to readers In the Rrs place will introduce tn
victim to readers by description. Mr. Peter Cole
keeper, residing at Centreville, Allany
ty this State about thirty Eve years Of ago. ofcou
try sppe arance. strictly honest, and evidently
the belief that all others were honest likewise, ar
rived in this city fow days since fo1 the purpose
buying goods, bringing. vita him y cash capital 0
several hundred dollars Vn his arrival, he put up
.. Tsylor's Hotel, Ccarsblndt street, and the next
day Friday) visited oawe of the wholesale stores
In the vicinity in ords- 20 make selection Of dry
goods suitable for bis. isness In the Of the
morning, he strolled.r ito Broad way, whore the
Of the stranger was . ttracted With "going going
going" anc the hoy nGer Of the auctioneer sounded
EsaTIy On tns 60 unter. as the words, inaiscrimi'
na.e.y nlendeo w the csttsr OF the hammer on
ths es- OF tne f;ountryman-" cheap cheap only
ten collars tcr q srlerdii geld watch - Mr. Cole
directed ais 81 ent;on to the shop where he sew ex-
hibi.et in tl< widow, gold watches, chains, go.
Ct apparent great value. Nov, in order that our
readers Ely more readily understand the whole
affair, We give the story, IS near as possible in bis
own lang iage, es follows;-
Wheo entered the store, it being in Broad way
OF cou-sfy, thought it was all honest and right;
saw q ute number Of gentlemen about the coun-
ter fling on gold watch. looked on, and two
or three spoke TO me and said, they guessed the
watches sold pretty cheap. just then young man
| bid Off gold watch for $li This man said he
/ wis matchmaker from Hoboken, and know the
catch to DO great bargain; he paid the 81, and
IuT the watch into his pocket Another gold watch
Was then put up, and the auotioneer was running II
| y pretty smart, when man standing next to IN,
J whispered to me and sad . that's good chance
| want watch and | know it Is good cce; you
can buy il cheaper thnn can, II you bid on II; Ii
give you ten dollars for the trouble /" So of coursc
| bid on the watch, aud It was struck or TO me fol
fifty dollars The man for whom | bid, said all hi'
money was at bis hotel; sad asked me 10 sdVsucs
the money, sud TO 90 with hia to the hotel, sad as