The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-04-05
A GANG OF sWEy0LERS ARRESTED.

Tho prnprietSrs and Clerks Of the Merchants,
and Manu'aciurcrs' Cooperative Distrjbu.
tion Arrested.
For the past three weeks the papers OF this and
adjoining cites nave been literally patronzed by
an Institution known as the Merchants and Manu-.
facturers' Cooperative Distribution OF $25o, 600 IN
goods and moneg. one prize said to amount to the
handsome sum OF $4,000 In cash, the balance Of
the prizes watches, pianos. silverware, sewing
machines, DC. The price a ticket was fixed at
the moderate sum oil one dollar and the number Of
tickets lin ted to 800, CO.,
A large number O, persons were persuaded to in
vest their money IN the concern, hoping to receive
large return, but through some unaccountable
means every person who drew ticket was un-
fortunate enough TO draw blank one. No one got
a prize. although many tremblingly and breath
lessly drew forth tie slip OF pasteboard, and were
sadly disappointed when they were Informed they
had drawn blank instead OF the $4,000. Their
hodus operdadt Of drawing was foows:-As
persons entered the establishments which was
located on tue rst oor OF SIC and ys Broadway thew
purchased their tickets and proceeding toriie rear
CT the store gave ii 70 some person In charge, WHO
allowed them To proceed short distance and
thrust their hands into revolving wheel filed with
tickets 1ney were sure TO pull blanks, which fact was
Eiiviiacea to them w person on duty with the in
struction 10 pass on out oi the establishment. The
fact OF the swindsc coming TO the cars o. Supcrin-
.enuent heso .oupiea Win Tue complaints OF
several OF tue vctmlzed parties. caused him ycster
day afternoon 10 accompany Captain walsh, of the
Fouriecnth precinct 10 the place, and arrest the
proprietor and ali parties employed upon the
premises.
The Captain entered the place, purchased q
ticket, aud like his predecessors drew the unfortu-
nate blans. Being Informed OF the fact and ordered
TO pass on he proceeded TO the front Of the store
ana ordering In file OF officers in citizens clothes
took charge OF The implements ami the following
parties, WHO were locked up In the Spring street
station house all nignt:-George Thomas Elias alias
George Thomas Harris, proprietor, and James
McCiennaD Henry Wilson, Charles Sinclair, James
j. Smith and Andrew Wan, clerks.
Shortly alter the raid was made rumor was set
aaoat that some OF the gamblers who hbernated
across the way had subscribed ten cents each, aud
dispatched messenger IN 10 draw for them which
happened 10 be q blank. They managed 10 construct
some Kind oi I'm machine, which tne hanger on
concealed u1dcr his sleeve ana again beng fur
nished with the means 10 purchase a ticket pro-
cceced across The street, and managed TO scoop n'
about 80 OF the tickets, when he conveyed across
the street To his accompices, and threw them down
on table Upon examining them they were all
found 10 he blanks. IL Is Claimed they have
aready dlsn. sed o. over 5000 tickels and would.
doubt, have succeeded IN swnatng great many
more but for the prompt action OF Captain Walsh in
arrestng them ana locking them up. They will be
arIaigneu before Justice Hogan at The Tombs this
morning. when a complaint III be preferred against
them OF swindling by Captain Walsh, who informed
HERALD reporter last night that there were nearly
three barrels fullo tickets standing near the wheel
OF fortune, each one containing blank prize.