The daily gazette., 1882-12-05
TRICKS ON TRAVELLERS.
PAYING FoR LODGING BUT
NOT GETTING 1T. ~
ONE GLASS OF FRONT STREET RUN
An Old PeddIer and His Wife Seek Ac-
coinmodations at a "Hotel," But Land
I'm the City Hail. as9

For some time past complaints have been
made by strangers who have entered Front
street hotels +" and lodging houses, that
they have been badly treated and In many
instances drugged and robbed. The
GAZETTE some time since spoke in a general
way OF the condition of Front street ia q
moral sense and referred TO the powerful
liquid dispensed to the unwary. Those fami-
liar with tue locality seem To Withstand the
effects OF the stuff called whisky aud
flourish on 1t. A new way " fleece
the unsuspecting has come to light,
although Suspected for some time and alto
gether unknown. A bona fide instance
OF the way the lodging house keepers make
moLey without giving MI equivalent is
shown by the manner an aged couple were
treated last might. An old peddier aud his
wife arrived IL this city yesterday afternoon
from West Chester for the purpose of re-
Plenishtng their stock, regular thing for
them to do. They are well known Ia this
city, making frequent visits mere for the
same purpose. Upon getting through with
their business they entered Dugan's saloon
ON Front street TO engage lodging. The
old man asked what it would
cost for himself and vile, and was
told BY Dugan that 50 ceuts was the regu-
lar rate, wnrreupon the customer remarked
that heretofo when he had stopped at the
same place under another proprietor be had
only paid 3O cents ior tile two. He was
then told by the proprietor that the beds
were good and SO cents was the lowest
price. The peddler agreed and his wife
stepped into the room back of the bar and
sat down. The old gentleman then being
cold and chilled through with bis long
walk, called Tor two glasses OF whisky.
drinking one himself aud Mrs. Dugan carry
ing the o,her to his wife. He then paid
Dag ~ cent?, 50 Tor the Ted aud 20 for
the llquor. Alter that he says he rcInem-
bers nothing until found on the sidewalk by
an officer aud taken to the Hall.
The rest OF his story is told by the police
officers. Shortly after 8 O'Clock officer Heal
found the old man In front OF Dugan's place
IN stupid condition, his bundle of goods
being scattered around. Knowing the old
fellow the officer kindly picked up the diff
ferent articles and tied them together lust
as Dugan came out. Heal spoke to Duyan
and asked him tO take care Of the old man,
not knowing the latter had been inside once :
Dugan agreed to tio 20, while the lady,
who did npt appear to bc under the influence
oi the dfu-, was advised TO 90 to the hall
The old man went in, but In the course
III . or ~ minutes when officers Cannon
ana Nickers came along there was the old
prddier asleep on the sidewalk. He WAS
taken TO the Hall and this morning told his
story.
lie declares that the story as here told Is
true in every particular so far as he can
recollect up to the time of paying the money
for his bed and getting the liquor. Further
he states that he bad not taken drink of
any kind prior to the decoction or concoction
furnished by Dugan.
The old fellow does not appear at all like
a drinking man and feels keeuly the unfair
and dishonorable treatment to which he was
subjected. The officers treated him kindly
and no charge will be preferred against
hlm. On the other hand it is asserted that
Dugan will be arraigned for obtaining
money under false pretenses.
Both Dugan and his wife offer excuse for
ousting the old folks, to neither of which,
however, will hold good, inasmuch AS they
never saw the bed paid for, let alone getting
into it.
Such tricks upon travellers are altogether
TOO frequent upon the much complained of
thoroughfare, and some stringent measures
are needed to break up the disreputabio
practices.
Mayor Wales has, upon several occasions,
publicly reprimanded Dugan ior the style
and manner in which that worthy establish
n'nt i- conducted, and promises that If ever
the proprietor OF the Front street dive comes
Deiore him and is found guilty to deal out
al the penalty that the law allows aud pre-
sente.