Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1886-07-14

Tho "Miner's' Exposure Of Their Nefa.
rious Swindle Ruins Their
Prospects in Battle.
Tar Accusing This Paper Of Attempt.
iug to Blaekmail They Are
Arrested for Slander.
Their Difficulty in Securing Bonds
How Their Arab-Like' Exit Has
Been Postponed.

The "tca fakifs" are angry-fearfully
onorv The expose OF their swindle In
rosterday's MINER awfully impaired it's
successful operation last evening, and they
Grew angry. Their brass band was on
ZACH at the usual hour, and discoursed
stirrino music at the door OF their store.
Tho .fakirs' we're arrayed behind their
o;ogbam covered apology for 6 counter and
Yelled frantically for patronage, but
their appeals were met by any
thing but an enthusiastic response. The
tnw npople who were attracted by
the band kept their dollars in their pockets
and resisted the tempting inducements
held out by the plausible swindlers, and as
. consequence the latter became angered.
Acoup!e of ladies dropped into the store,
and were instantly hailed by one OF the
~'fakirs." =
Here You are, madam" he smilingly
shouted. This way for your tea ana
coffee. There's n prize in every can, and
for a dollar you have a chance to draw an
elegant gold watch. u diamond ring or pin
or a large amount Of money. Here you
are. For "A partial list Of the persons who
lave drawn valuable prizes see the norm
iug and afternoon papers. Here you--"
Thank you" said one of the ladies; II
read this mornings MINER"
The crowd roared, and the "fakir" waxed
vroth. He told his auditors hat The
MINER had exposed his scheme because he
had refused to purchase it's silence, and in
bis anger denounced the entire editorial
staff of this paper, individually and collec-
tiyely. as blackmailers. A gentleman in
the crowd told him he was a swindler and
q liar, and the infuriated ''fakir' reached
for his pistolpocket, but failed to exhibit
q weapon. Another bull-necked "fakir"
n,lled off his coat and offered to fight any
newspaper man in town, and the scene a |
exciting for a few moments. The crowd
epioyed the fun-but purchased no tea.
At intervals during the evening the
"fakirs' were reminded OF The MINERS
eyDose OF their cheat, and each reminder !
was followed by a repetition OF the accusa- !
ton that this paper had attempted to
blackmail the 'fakirs," and, failing to do
20, nHu SUOWuu w ILAClA kAlASs ~ ~ y. ~. /
the store was closed on account OF bad
business, and the disguised swindlers
counted up the meager receipts OF their
nights work.
THEY r ARRESTED.
About IL o'clock last night the three
members OF the firm alleged as THE Mer-
chant Tea Company were arrested by
Deputy Sheriff Buzzo on a charge of libel
and SANDER. The complaint was sworn to
by James C. Crawford, City Editor OF The
MINER. before Justice Nichols. The defend.
ants were arrested on Main street, and i'm
m~ediately started of, in custody Of the
Deputy, to rustic" bonds 10 the sum OF
$500 each for their appearance in court
when called. They secured the city for
about two hours in a search for bail. but
we're unable to find anybody with enough
faith in their integrity to furnish the
$500. They interviewed all kit dis OF peo-
pe without success, and at length were
obliged to keep themselves out OF prison
by putting up as security a tin box con-
tanning their money and jewelry- their
stock in trade, in fact.
Two other criminal complaints will be
filed .ainst the "fakirs" tomorrow by the
other editorial attaches of The MINER, and
they will be made defendants in three civil
suits for damages.
TO SKIP.
1t was the intention OF the "fakirs" to
steal silently away from Butte to-day or
to.morrow-to skip out" in the undigni-
fed manner which has marked their de-
parture from many ether cities fleeced by
them. Their removal from one community
TO another is an easy matter. Their
outfit consists of one large wooden
M containing their stock OF tea
aime small tin box containing their
stock Of snide jewelry. Their store furni-
ta-consisting OF a quantity OF shelving,
a counter made OF planks resting on
trestles and covered with black calico, q
glass case and a few sheets of paper-they
purchase or hire in each city visited by
them. With them, moving out is only a
matter OF moments. Their departure
from Butte has been Unexpectedly and in.
definitely postponed by their arrest last
night, however. They cannot afford to