Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1852-11-15
oPeter Fuuks, !"

The "Pcter Funks'' is esignation given to Il
class of swindling auctoneers that seem to abound
| In New York. The New York Express thus de
tails some of their operations:
Scarcely day passes but we have to record
some swndle perpetrated by those sol derant auc-
toneers by whom the lower part of the town is in
| tested. Some time ago the Mayor deemed 1t ne
ceSsary to send boys bout the city with pacards
| inscribed with the words, Strangers beware oil
mock auc!ons.' But the practice has since fallen
into disuse. Something should be done by he au-
thoriies to protect unSuspectlng strangers from
the harpies by whom they are plundered and rob
| bed in open daylight 1t is disgrace to our city.
| A few days ago young man from the Wes:, who
had come TO this city for the purpose of obtaining
passage to San Francisco, stepped into mock
| auction shop, and was induced to buy watch,
| represen ed as gold, for S45.
.sHavins paid the money, a Peter Funk watch
maker told the countrynlan 'it was Brass advis-
| ing him TO exchange it, The auctioneer then put
| up another watch, which was bought by the green
'un' for S70-he giving his first watch and S25 in
cash for settlement. Ashe was leavIGg the shop
another roper told him he could take him to a
place where he could get $50 lar his bargain. The
| two then went to another shop, where the watch
was put up and the Buckeye was induced to lid;
but instead Of his own watch being sold, he discov-
| cred that he bid 500 for another watch. He then
dtmandedhis own watch but the auctioneer refused
| to give it up till the 500 was paid.
"Another peter Funk i'll confidential manner
then addressed the stranger and advised him 10 pay
the sos, telling him at the same time that he would
take him to place where he could get Sl15 for
both the watches. The advice was thankfully re-
ceived and acted upon, and the two went to SIM
liar establishments short distance from the other.
The two watches were handed to the auctioneer,
and the bidding commenced in spirited style, the
countryman joining in. Again, instead of his own
watch being sold, he found that he had bid Sl16
on another watch. This last matter was finally
settled by the aucioneer keeping the sos watch in
part payment, and receiving balance in cash Of
$40. As the stranger was about leaving, another
Peter Funk picked him up and told him he could
show him place where he could get all his mo-
ney back. They then went together to another
shop, where both watches were put up and bid in
by a Peter Funk for S200-one hundred EACH
The new customer. said he has, but So, which he
would leave security till he wentto his hotel for
| the balance. The countrynan by this time began
to see that he was duped. and demanded back his
two watches. The auctioneer told him thai there
was $50 duty upon them, and refused to deliver up
.ither until that sum was paid. In despair at the
loss of his money, &C., the stranger was directed
by policeman to the Tombs. The matter was
placed by the magistrate in the hands of officer,
who went down and compelled them 10 dsgorge
the whole amount of money they had plundered
from the unsuspecting countryman."