The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1874-09-17
A NEW SWLNDLE-BoGUS INTER
NALREVENUE OFFICERS FLEEC-
ING CIGAR DEALERS-OVER &c.
600 PAID TO THEN.

From the New York Herald scp!emberl.l
For the last three weeks Il couple of
bogus "internal revenue officers" have
been blackmailing cigar dealers in this
city, and have reaped harvest, it is re-
ported, of $1,000 to $4,000. One store
paid them as much as 500 for hush mon
ey. Their personal appearance is de-
scribed by some of the yictimsas follows:
zone of them is about six feet high, light
complexion, with small whiskers, has
squeaky voice, and wears a white hat.
AS soon as he enters q cigar store he
states that he and his companion are in
ternal revenue officers, and that they
have received information that irregu-
larities are taking place In the store, and
that they have been cent to investigate
the matter. After finishing his speech
he shows silver badge of Office. His
companion is of short stature, and from
his speech, is thought to be a German
Jew. He is dressed in gray suit, and
has diamond rings and diamond breast
pin. They then proceeded to examine
the cigar boxes, and directly they find
an empty one which has not had its gov
ernment stamps cancelled, they say {:
you're our prisoner" Each empty box
with uncanceled stamps has to paya fine
of $50. They then read the following
extract from the Internal Revenue law of
June 9, 1872:
Whenever any stamped box, contain
ing cigars, cheroots or cigarettes, shall be
emptied, it shall be the duty of the per-
son in whose hands the same may be to
| destroy utterly the stamp or stamps there
on; and any person who shall willfully
neglect or refuse to do so shall for each
ofiense, on conviction, be fined not ex-
ceeding $50, and imprisoned not less than
ten days nor more than six months"
The cigar dealer will then say "Why,
| have only two OF three empty ones,
and through the press of business l have
not had time to smash the box or cancel
the stamps. The law says, they are not
to be used again, and have no inten-
ton of so doing" The German Jew then
says Cant help it, but must take you
before the United States Commissioner" &"
Naturally the dealer protests, and it is
then suggested that, as he has hitherto
born a good name, the matter can be
Squared" which is generally done at
S25 box.
A reporter called at the Office of Super
visor Lucian Hawley, of the Internal
Revenue Department, in Cedar street,
and learned from Mr.. Birdsall and Mr..
Burke that complaints had been receiv-
ed about the operations of these black
mailers, and that Mr.. Henry Smith, Dep
uty Collector OF the Third District, whose
office is situated on Third avenue and
Seventh street, had heard that the fel-
lows in question had been prowling
around his division blackmailing the pro-
prietors of several cigar stores.
The internal revenue officers do moi
wear a badge, but are the holders of d
commission, and have no right to COM
promise cases or receive money. Cases
can only be compromised by the United
States District Attorney. Legitimate in
ternal revenue officers, when they dis
cover Irregularities, are bound to lodge
the information with Collector or Su
pervisOr of Internal Revenue, after which
a complaint is entered through the Uni
ted States District Attorney.