The New York herald., 1879-09-26
MOCK AUCTION sWINDLES.
AN ILLEGITIMATE INDUSTRY THAT FLOUR
IsHED IN THIS CITY NOT MANY YEARS

AN ILLEGITIMATE INDUSTRY THAT FLOUR
IsHED IN THIS CITY NOT MANY YEARS
AGO.
The case of Mrs. Moore. who claims MS reported
in yesterdays HERALD to have been the victim of
Fourteenth street mock aution the extent
of over $4,000. has recalled period by means
mote when the city infested with swindles such
as that which Mrs. Moore declares has been prac
tsed to her annoyance. Prior to the year 1853 there
had gradually grown up in New York species of
auction places where people We're feeced in the most
shameful and barefaced manner. The boldness Of
the "auction men" caused by their apparent immu-
nifty from legal responsibility. became great pub.
lie scandal. Strangers were robbed with impunity
their money being enticed ont OF their pockets by
false pretences and promises OF all kinds. The pub
lie at last became so indignant at the rep Gated out
RACES that the Legislature was petitoned for aid.
THE AUCTION LAW.
In April, 1853, law accordingly passed. 1t
may found in chapter 13s of the laws O. that year
The act, after going on to say that the repeated
swindes had become shameful. and speaking of the
escape of the swindlers because Of the .subte dis
tnction between larceny and fraud" places the
penalty at three years less ana $ 900 fine less
for any one connected with an auction room or
saesroom who shall obtain money. goods their
equivalent by fraud or Misrepresentation Of any
kind.
Sc ton makes it necessary for any one desiring
to become an auctioneer to take out license be-
tween the lst and the 18th of Juno OF each year.
filing bond. with good securities. i'll the of
$4,000.
upon The proper mode of procedure III case OF swim
die. reads as folows:-
The Mayor. the complaint of person having beon
defrauded by auctoneer the clerk agent assi
OF such auctioneer doing business in the city and
take testimony under reang thereto and it the
said charge shalt in his opinion be susained then he shall
revoke the license granted under the provisions OF this
and commit the parties for trial according to law and
preceding section.
1t will be seen that this law is rather compre-
hensive one If carried out to the letter. and at the
time of it's enactment made things more less
'hvely" for the mock aUcton men. Broadway.
however continued 10 flourish with the Peter
the war. Then vigorous agitation by the
authorities cleared that thoroughfare OF the
nuisances and from the eyes OF Il majority Of New
Yorkers they disappeared for ever. Chatham street.
the Bowery and other Thorough ares however, cung
to the little shops where 80 coat might be
purchased for $15, ana the business pros
pered according to the times The stories that could
be told of the Thousand and one ways the auction
had of swindiing the unwary would ill pages
or the HERALD. A verdant youth would be sold u
brass watch worth 81 for S25. and bundled
out before his happiness could be alloyed
with the knowledge Of his swindle. With an
average New Yorker. however, they had first class
gold watch worth possibly $50. which after q
the auction and the victim would be knocked down
TO the latter for $50 or $40 or perhaps more. The
auctoneer, with "a smile OF congratulation, would
then say. "Allow to put it up for you.
my dear sir" and taking the watch would
put it III very elegant little box. When the victim
reached home he would find i'll the nice little box
nice little brass watch, worth about fifty ceats.
Clothes sold for two-thlrds over their real
value, and in many instances for as much again as
the retail price. Or course people found out that
they were swindled. The newspapers showed up
case after case but nothing seemed to check the de-
al
golfers of the auction men. The business assumed
all sorts of shapes and grew enormously for years,
until the laws enforcement came upon them as
bightIng frost. Then they would go to smaller
streets and more modest stores. and there they con-
Growing out Of these mock auction stores
greater swindles. "Mr. j. Livingston Eiegantuni.
about to depart tor Europe for stay of ten years.
will sell his elegant household furniture plate &C..
at auction" Such an advertisement would fire.
quently appear, and lots Of Mrs. Toodles would be
found to whom the possession of some of Mr.. Ee-
gantums furniture would insure perfect happiness.
The furniture would bring two three lines the
retail price and then tall to pieces on the way home
in the carts This kind of auction has hourished
Notwithstanding the law, and it is said there
Il number of them i'll ful operation in different
places throughout the city. Fourteenth street is
said to contain one or two and Twenty-third street
several.
HERALD reporter called on Colonel Tracey. secre-
tary to the Mayor. and asked him what the law
that governed the auction business. After quoting
the law of 1858, above Colonel Tracey said:-
'You see the Mayor has magsterial power in these
and they about the only ones he has such
licenses. but he can commit them for trial just as
any magistrate can.
..Have there been any proceedings recently against
mock auction men?
There have been direct proceedings. but we
have this year revoked number OF licenses to auc-
tioneers."
"IIow many?"
"About twelve or thirteen"
"For what were they revoked?"
"Weil. information came to us that things were
not altogether regular, and the licenses were re.
voked that account. They mostly held by
downtown dealers"
''How about the uptown ones"
eve are investigating them now and will deal with
them according to law
The character OF some of the uptown 'private
house" auctions may te best understood by the
remarks OF old and well known auctiopeer of this
city with whom the reporter afterwarI conversed.
"How about those uptown auctions Of furniture
III pr vate housesY
''Auctons be e---, they're skins!"
'They have the red flag out and every thing seems
regular"
"Regular skins-hag out all the year round.'
"You don't seem to think much of them"
''Skns from beginning to end"
Assyr