Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1875-08-06
THE SAMPLE MERCHAN T ARREST.

mOnd, a drummer for some Northern and
Western furniture houses, on Saturday
evening, has excited Staunton more than
we have seen it for some time. 1t has
been the subject of discussion ever since,
and is not yet ended. We give below the
on all sides of the question,
which will probably not be definitely set
tied without an official investigation. The
is the
OF JUSTICE CEASE AND TES-
TIMONY OF OFFICER GREGORY:
was sent for by Policeman Gregory to
come to Messrs. Bickles' shop. I started
up and got as far as Mr.. Weller's shoe
store, when l saw Policeman Gregory and
N. c. Gregory, Assistant Assessor, having
some one in charge and they told me that
they wanted me atmy office. Invent down
and found the man Rahm under arrest
Policeman Gregory made a statement that
he had asked Mr.. Rahm to show his license
and he positively refused. [ then swore
Policeman Gregory and N. c. Gregory to
testify. Policeman Gregory's testimony
was as follows, to wit:
I was informed by Commissioner Hud-
son that there was u man of the above
name describing him] selling goods as a
sample merchant and was informed.he had
no license. Learning that he was at Messrs.
Bickles', I went there, and inquired Of
Mr.. Y. M. Bickle, calling him into his
ware rooms, if the gentleman's name was
Rahm He told me it was. I then asked
him if he had a license and he told me he
did not know. [ then went to the door
and called Mr.. Rahm in and asked him if
he was not selling furniture as a sample
merchant, and if he had license to do so,
whereupon he replied it was none of my
business whether he had OF not. 1 told
him l was police-officer of the City of
Staunton. He then came to the door and
[ told him that he would either have to
show his license OF go before a magistrate.
He told me if [ was better man than ne
was [ could take him there. [ then saw
a young man and sent for Squire Cease
and waited one half hour for him to come.
While waiting on Squire Cease told Mr..
Jno. Bickle, while at his desk, that if the
gentleman had q license he had better
show it or go before magistrate, where
upon MI. Bickle replied he thought so too.
Squire Cease did not come and my brother
came up. At that time went to the door
where Nj. Rahm was standing, asking him
again for his license. He still refused to
show it. then told him again he would
have to go before magistrate, and
summoned my brother to assist me.
He then put his hand in his breast pocket
in threatening attitude when we clinched
him, he resisting and kicking at us, and
threw him upon the floor, he then offered
to show his license but not before, but 1
told him it was too late, he would have to
go for resisting an officer.
This is the testimony of the policeman,
and was not contradicted by any witness.
The City Attorney heard part of the
testimony. but not that which was strong
est for the Commonwealth He advised
me to reprimand Mr. Rahm for refusing to
show his license and let him go; but adj
ded that if thought from all the evidence
which had been heard by me he ought to
be fined, then [ should impose small fine
on him. Believing as did that he should
be fined, 1 fixed the fine at So.
The law is that any officer of the county
or corporation has right to demand of
any sample merchant to show his license,
and arrest him if he refuses, and no other
officer besides a policeman carries badge
or any evidence about them to sh ow that
they are an officer
STATEMENT OF MIR. j. A. BICKLE.
Mr. Rhan came to my furniture ware
house in the morning and Nick. Gregory
the deputy Revenue Commissioner came
in. I was showing Rham where we had
been burnt out, and Gregory went out with
US to see. Rham went out and left his
trade photographs on my desk. Mr.. Nc
Nemara, standing there, asked. if | had
ever bought anything from him, and
laughed and said, "would it do you any
good to know" After dinner Nick, Greg
DRY saw me and said he believed Rham was
selling without license, told him I had
bought from him before, and thought he
had license, but that Rham would be here
in the afternoon and he could very easily
see, In the evening Rain had came back,
and | bought some goods from him. Nick
came back and asked me if | had bought 4:
told him had, and that l thought he
had a license.
In the evening Charlie Gregory, the po-
llcenlan, came up while Rahm was there.
He called Rahm into the house and said
to him, and when they came
out both were 'smartly mad, and fulfilled
Kahn said show me your warrant upon
Which you arrest me. Gregory said it
1ldn't need warrant for this case. .Rahm
asked Gregory three times for his authori-
y and got the same reply, and Rahm said
inally, 60 Then 1 will be ID if YOU can
lake me without it," Gregory told some-
body to Ego and tell Mr.. Cease to come up
lere." Both came in. Gregory came to
ne and said, John, do you think this fei-
ow has got any license" 1 replied, eyes,
think so. OF wouldn't buy from him. y
We then went to the door, and Nick. Greg
Try stepped up on the porch. Charlie
gregory then stepped up to Rham and.
o coolly and deliberately that | thought
verything of bad feeling was over, and
suppose that Rahm thought so too,
or he said, "Gentlemen, don't want
Q get you all into trouble" and went to