The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-06-27
TIE TOBACCO TIxEs.
Ar,fo, Dodces Of Spies und Informers

About ten days ago retail oealer vi tnls
city, Mr.. d. Meyer, was reported by an IN
former for selling unstamped tobacco, and IL
being proved that he had taken the tobacco
from the stamped Dox In which 1t was packed
and cut In small pieces for sale, he was bound
over for trial before The United States Court.
The case was discontinued, however, by the
district attorney upon payment of The costs.
Several other casss were brought before the
United States commissioner ON Information;
some for selling tobacco from glass Jars and
some from cases, and these, With but one or
Two exceptions, took the same courso us the
first. In one Of these latter cases, Mr. Stone,
for the district attorney, said that the selling
oil tobacco in this manner, l.. c., from glass
jars, or the case unslamped, was clear Viola
lion of the internal revenue law, and he hoped
The whole of Charleston would be searched
through, and each offender In this way brought
before the court The hint was speedily taken
by the hangers.on of the commissioners Office.
The cases had whelted their appetite for
.costs,n and new ones came In thick and fast
The Informers, among the chief of whom Is a
mulaLto named Farrar, went systematically TO
work. One would 60 into store and ask for
tobacco. While he was exanlHing The iot
shown him, his companion was on the watch
outside. If the tobacco was taken from the
stamped box, 1t was we'll and good. II 1t was
taken from glass jar, or the case where 1t
had been placed ready cut up for sale, although
Just detached from the muss In the stamped
box near By, a piece was bought, the outsider
witnessed 1t, and the next day the dealer, VINO
never dreamed of the trap l.d fnr MIN ,Haa Mas
eummva.a IVY Warrani nefore lhe oni'eu
States commissioner. His intormers Wouia
then slate their case, and the dealer was con-
sldered lucky If he could induce the dlstrlct
attorney to discontinue the case upon payment
of from thirty to eighty dollars for costs.
Among those thus entrapped were Messrs.
D. Meyer, corner Church and Chalmers slreets;
G. MomeIer. corner Church and Elliott streets;
G. Logemann, corner King snd Tradd streets;
J. Hurkamp d Co., corner King and Broad
streets; G. H. Meyer i Co., Claus Koper' -
Meyer, corner Church street and LightWood
Alley and many others.
In the case of the dealer last mentioned,
Collector Cloutman examined the premises,
and told the parties that If they would let Inc
matter 70 to Trial before the District Court,
and put him on the stand, he would make
oath that the store was KEEP; In as close con-
for,nity with the revenue Law as any IN the
city. Further, that there wss nothing more
than mere technically on which to build q
case. The party had, however, already palo
the costs to have the case discontinued. These
cases have become more numerous Than many
dream of, and are proving an easy source OF
prott to the characters who make 1t q ousl-
ness to ensnare unwary shopkeepers lnto a
technical violation Of the law When brought
before the United States commissioner the
latter has no option but TO bind the partes
over. II the revenue law is violated, and these
prosecutions are under the after part Oh lne
seyenty-eighth section of theact OF July, 1905.
This afftxes heavy penalty upon the sale OF
unstamped manufactured tobacco, unless IL
be- sold directly from the bor properly stamped.
The case of dealer selliug small pieces OF
tobacco from glass jar, said pieces having
been lust taken from the stamped box for con-
venience, was heard in Michigan, and decioea
to be- n violation of the section Of the revenue
law lust alluded to. Retailers should keep
lookout for the informers, and recollect aiso
that an ounce of prevention is worth pouna
of nnra