Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-02-19
THE TEA SHARPERS AGAIN
THEIR PHILADhLPHIA O8REER
OUT hHORk.
Tho Lottery Mem Find that the
Authorities of tine City OF BrO-
aherIy Love wfil stand No Trtfi-
Ing.

snu - - ANpAhh hAkhhh bhNo0tg MdIo Jubtot
day raided as gambling and lottery
houses by the police. The men employed
In them were taken down TO the Central
Station and given hearing before Msgis
trAte Smith, who, before listening to tes-
timony, said: "The warrants on which
you were arrested were issued by the
advice Of the district attorney. The sup,
posed tea company is nothing more thAr
lottery concern by which the unwary
are defrauded. We propose to teach you
gentlemen that lotteries will not be per.
mitted in this community, and that you
must close up and get out"
The alleged COMPANY" set up busi-
ness in this oity about q week ago, and
by means Of long and tempting advertise
mepts secured big line Of customers.
Its advertisements were printed in every
Philsdelphis paper with the exception Of
the Ress and the Ledger. The Ress, re-
oognixing the fact that the concern was .
lottery refused to have anything TO do
with 1t. The company offered to give
away with every 81 can OF tea or coffee g
souvenir worth all the way from 10 eepts
to $50. Customers had their choios Of
cans. The advertisements were headed
in big letters as follows:
"100 GENUINE DIAMONDS PACKED
WITH TEA AND COFFEE.
C. W. Billman OF 2O24 Oxford street,
who ia in business as a rooier, ,is q gentle
man who is always ready to turn an honest
penny .Jswelry Ia In his line. He wears in
his neoktie cluster Of diamonds, aud his
watchohain and charm appear to weigh a
pound The advertisement OF the Mer.
chant Tea Company attracted his atteE-
tion and he went at once to their Eighth
street place. This was on Friday. In
the store he was aoeosted by Henry
Bennett, who told him that If he bought
81 can Of tea he might find in 1t $50
bill or lot Of diamonds, He at once in-
vested and discovered In tho can q pair Of
seven. cent earrings in addition to come
COARSE. looking tea.
"I'm sorry You didn't make ont b lt-
ter" said the insinuating Mr.. Bennett,
"but on that row that you chose from
there WAS god watch. You'd better
try 1t again. II you'll give me back that
oan and the earrings and 80 cents be-
sides, will let you select auother can, aud
maybe you'll win something valuable. I"
Mr.. Billman acquiesoed He returned
gratis the articles that he had paid 81
for, handed out half dollar more, and
was permitted to select another can. 1t
had nothing Of any worth In 1t.
81 tell You what" Mr.. Bennett con-
tinued, apparently annoyed at Mr.. Bill
mans i'll luck; "here are five rows of
cams. Inside Of two Of them are valuable
diamonds. I'll give ou pointer-buy
the whole lot and you'll get the dia.
monds.h
Mr.. BlllmAn went in Wholesale and
spent $32 The enc Of II was that all he
had fsr that money was four cans Of tea
and coffse, ring with microscopic dia.
moLd In it, aud q diamond stud. He
say q iewe 81 told him they were worth
together $5. He estimates his loss at
s25
When Billman got into bed on Friday
night he tossed about for several hours
trying to puzzle the thing ont. He
knew he had spent $32, but then he had
only four cams Of coffee. Yesterday
morning he went to Bennett and said /:
"L,ok here, spent $32 and ought to
have 80 cans. I've only got four, and !
want to know how 1t is. Give me the
other 49," Bennett smiled knowing
smile and refused to do anything of the
sort. Soon Bi Imam was made to under
stand that for his a32 he had had four
cans Of coffee and 56 chsnoss A' so osnta
chance. II he had wanted 80 GAGS Of
coffee and 80 souvonlrs for $32 ne could
have had them, but instead OF spending
his money on tea and ooffse he went In
for chances.
The matter had previously been
brought to the attention Of Chief o.
Police Stewart, who was collecting evi
dsnoe on which to base warrants. Special
Officer Hoffman and Sergeant Lseoh Of the
Eighth distriot, went in plsin clothes X
the Eighth street place, while the one OF
Chestnut street was looked after by somt
otter policemen. II ffmsn bought ont
pound OF tea and got some cheap studs
He was encouraged, however, to return
what he paid Tor, give 30 cents more and
have another chance Is bought ohsncei
meebly, without coming out ahead.
s'Now," said the p es7aat iLosd man.
i've are about establishing newspaper
AID We waut your name as one Of tbs
winners. Try again, AID may bs you'll
get the capital prize
''How much Is that 7" asked the officer
eagerly.
"a $50 bill or some diamonds" wa
ths apRwer. Hoffman tried and got 10
oeut brass watch chain. Then the sales
man thought maybe the customer wa
losing faith, and, after ustling about TO
few moments, took down can II
which there was q watch, iast to she'
that there was no deception. II guess
ehouldp't win anything ii | bought u
the whole store" said the detective q
he left in isgust,
The policemen who went 10 the othe
place had similar experiences. The chit
Of police said this convinced him that th
whole affair WAS q fraud, so warrant
we're issued and every one found in th
stores apprehended. The work was don
by = squad OF SixtJ District fioeTs.
The Eighth street men were srYaiRre
fret. They looked 4 setdy and irrespoi
aible lot They gave their rsmss "a 70
lows: Harry Bennett Of New York City
living on Federal street, above Bghtt
saleamRu; George Johnson, Bound Broo
Hotel; Charles Thomas, $40 North Right
street, bus mes, manager Of the con erI
and Charles & Cook, 70l Vine stree
Bennett was merely au empioye. Hehr
not yet drawn any wages Mapag'
Thomas, q gray haired msu said he csu
from the west aud latterly from Wilmin
ton, Del, The company, hs explaine
had headquarters at 237 WsshingtC
street, New York City, il charge Of d.
ellis. He could say nothing else abo'
1t. Billman aud Hoffman gave eviden
and identified the men.
The brigade from the Chestnut sire
store was then brought out. The busine
manager was Matthias Fisher, M
Yorker, who came here week ago Al
put up at the Washington Hotel. j.
Wilson OF New York, who had been ca
turei behind the oounter, said he was
New York City farmer. Freeman Piaggo
man who sold tea in ,he store, deolsr
tha. he was an advertising agent. G.
Brill OF PittshurR, was another employ
II. B. Villa OB OF Brooklyn, said
swept ont the store; Joseph Fellman
807 Gallo will street, announced hima
as the shipping clerk. A ID year-old bc
who had been sent for from Buffalo
Fisher. TO act as cashier, was discharge
W. W. Ker, counsel for the prisone
arrived and asked for an adjouFnm'
and lenient bail. Fisher AID Thon
were hold in 5000 each to Rppear at
central station at IL O'Clock to.morr
morning. Mr.. Ker guaranteed that
others would turn up. meanwhile
Mr.. Ker announced, ''my clients will Q
tinue their business"
"They will, eh ~ the magistrate
quired. ''It they do they will
arrested again and committed to pri
without bail. This things got to sto
Chief Stewart said that II the lott
was resumed more raids wOuld 4
place, as he was determined thst the
should be complied with.