Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1886-07-17
II ssTEA FAKE"

THE ssTEA FAKE"
A few days ago TIE MINER exposed the
nefarious character of the businesDacarried
on by the men Pickert. Jeffries and Lewis,
under the name of the Merchants Tea
COMPANY, on East Broadway, this city.
This was done immediately after the editor
OF this paper discovered the true character
of the business. 1t WA an act in the in
terest of the public, who were being feeced
by the sharpers in the most merciless man
ner. 1t was an act that was demanded
in the interest OF the reputable jewelers. and
grocers OF the city. No sooner had we
opened OF the thieves when they claimed
that we were actuated by base and mer-
cenary motives. Their assertion to this
effect was a bare-iaced lie and when they
charged that we attempted to extort
money from them or to blackmail them
they deliberately peljured themselves.
The facts briefly told are these: Thefellows
had a grievance with the Inter Mountain
and desired that THE MINER publish q
statement to the effect that q member OF
the Inter Mountain staff had attempted
to blackmail them out OF $3.50; also, that
VIZ publish an article rejecting on an
attache of that paper. Both proportions
were declined by us, most peremptorily.
The following evening the editor Of this
paper visited the tea shop and for the first
time learned it's true character. He remained
in the place but a few moments, at once
| repaired to the Office and ordered the con-
GERMS advertisement-which was q proita.
bic one-to be taken out of the paper. At
the same time he directed the city editor,
Mr.. James C. Crawford, to expose the true
character of the place-as a bunco joint.
In the %vernacular of the profession, the in
structions were to 'roast the place." The
editor heard no more of the subject
until waited upon by two of the
So called firm, Messrs. Pickert and Jeffries,
whom he declined to see alone, as he had
learned OF their dangerous character. They
wanted to know il their advertisement
could run" and they were told not, be.
cause theirs was not a legitimate business.
They then wanted to know il they would
be roasted" and were given no answer
as shat was q purely professional
matter" The two then departed.
At 10 o'clock Mr.. Crawford met the
editor and insurmed him that
the tea men had offered $50 in money
and a SIS gold watch if the advertise
ment would appear the following morning.
The reply was: "They are a gally set; tell
them to 20 to -" That ended the mat
ter, so far rs we have any knowledge. |
They subsequently bounded the city editor
and made several propositions, but they
were informed that the editor had gone
home and left instructions that the adver- |
tisement could not appear under any con.
dition and that all efforts in that direction
would be useless.
The advertisement did not appear; the
'roast" did. Then the v%illifcation of
everybody connected with the establish |
ment began.
While we were actively engaged with our
attorneys. Messrs. Scallon and Speer, to |
prosecute these fellows to the utmost limit
of the law and to fully expose their true
characters. they silently stole away, leav.
ing behind them their wares, letters and
bogus iewelry.
No effort was made to blackmail the
outfit nor to extort money from them up
on any plea whatever. Their dirty brides,
which were also indirectly made to our
contemporary, were as promptly and indie-
nantly spurned.
This is the story in brief, as it will be
fully proven as soon as the fugitives are
brought back to Butte. These men are
professional bunco men and black-mailers.
They have a fear of the press and the law
and everywhere resort to all sorts OF sub.
terfuges and undetermined means to
muzzle both. In this they failed in Butte
and therefore fell back upon their old-time
weapons to weaken their awful blow. That
pimps, blacklegs, thugs. tin-horns and
bunco 'steerers should nave s%ympathized
with them did not surprise us, but that
men who claim to be reputable citizens
should have done SO did surprise rs.
We are making an effort to bring these
back to Butte. II we succeed in
doing SO, al we believe that we shall, we
make good our promise to send them
to the penitentiary.