Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1885-02-16

HmS 1eo A6m C0mc 10 0Rl0ls
The Traders Tea Company, that cal
ried ON business in this city for tw
weeks 1t No. 313 Market Street, bu
were suppressed by States Attorne,
Gray for violation Of the law forbid
ding lotteries, went from here to Phila.
delphia, where they opened two stores
one of which was at 712 Chestnut street
and the other at No. IA North Eight
street.
The name Of the concern was changet
to the Merchants Tea Com pany, and
their method of conducting business
was similar TO that practiced by them
In this city. Some of the alleged prizes
were displayed In the windows, while
inside the stores, on the shelves were
rows of gaudily papered pasteboard
bones containing the tea and coffee
The attention Of the police authorities
and District Attorney Graham was
called 70 the opening Of the stores, and
their peculiar manner of doing business
several days since, and the Mayor, with
the Ohief Of Police, had . consultation
with tho District Attorney for the pur.
pose OF adopting means TO suppress the
business, and arrest the man ayers, and
others connected with IL.
For the purpose OF obtaining evidence
against them several parties were furn.
tshed with money, and instructed te
purchase packages of tea and coffee.
On Saturday @. w. Billman went tothe
Central Station and:made affidavit thst
device in the nature of q lottery
had been set up at the Eighth street
store" and special officer Keaton made
q siniilal affidavit In relation to the
Chestnut street place.
Magistrate Smith issued warrants foI
the arrest of the inmates of the two
stories, and these were served about
four o'clock in the afternoon. A priso-
ner brought before the Ma sgistrate from
the Eighth street store, who gave hil
name as Charles Thomas, about &C
years old, residing at S49 North Eighth
street, admitted himself 10 be the mana.
ger. He said he and the others came
from the West and bad been as far q,
st. Paul and lately at Wilmington
Del. He could not remember who con
stituted the partnership in the tea COM
pany, which had It's headquarters al
237 Washington street, New York, and
ouly remembered the name Of H. G.
GiLlis as one of the partners.
Henry Bennett, salesman, Of New
York, lodging on Filbert street, George
johnson, Of New York, staying at ths
Bound Brook Hotel, Charles K. Cook
Of baltimore, stopping at Seventh and
Vine, we're the other defendants arrest
I'd at the Eighth street place, and they
all said they were employed BY
Thomas" They were then informed
OF the nature of the charge against
them. Mr.. Billmau was sworn. He
said he first bought one package from
Bennett on Saturday, but got no prize
Bennett then advised him TO buy 8
hole row ; he did 80, but got only 9
cheap watch this was returned, and
Bennett gave him few more rows, ani
then told him to take five back rows fol
diamonds" but he got nothing afte
spending $32.
Several other parties testified to th,
same effect, and the prisoners wer,
held In 5000 bail each for furthe
hearing. A tea merchant of Phila
delphia, who examined the tea, sait
that the actual worth would not exceet
twenty cents a pound. The man VIII,
gave his name at the hearing as Charlie
Thomas is thought to be the one who Il
known in this city as Mr.. Phillips,
aud who represented himself as one o
the managers. One of the men arrested
at the Chestnut street store gave hi
name as Freeman Pickett, and said b,
was an advertising agent. He Il
thought TO be the one who figured IL
this city as II. T. Piaggott, one Of tn,
| managers.