Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1886-05-27
"FENCES.'
PLACES WHERE THIEVES DIS
POSE OF THEIR PLUMBER.
Jewelry Shops Where PIunder is
Called "OId Gold and silver
Devious Ways of Men Who
Deal in Stolen Property.

Called 'OId Gold and silver
Devious Ways of Men Who
Deal in Stolen Property.
The New York Commercial Adcertiser
says it is charged that many jewelry
stores trade with thieves in stolen goods.
1t is difficult to discover them, however,
continues the paper, and but rarely
is fence arrested, much less con
victed. 1t was only after many years.
notorious violation of the law that the
queen Of fences, Mother Mandelbaum,
was arrested. It is authoritatively said,
however, that there are stores not alone
on Sixth avenue and the Bowery, but
right down in the centre Of the iewelrv
trade on John and Nassau streets and
Maiden lane, where stolen property is re-
ceived and disposed of. Small signs in
the window declaring that 'sold gold
and silver is bought" can be noticed in
most jcwelry stores. OF course some do
Legitimate trade, but there are many
others who do not. It is simple matter
to buy old metal, thrust it into pot and
melt it up. The question is generally
asked if there are no 'sfences, " how and
where do the thieves dispose Of their
plunder2
A well-known detective of one of the
most important precincts in the city.
when questioned in regard to the matter,
said: 81 don't believe there is what YOU
can really call fence in the CITY to-
day. Remember, I don't mean to saw
that there are no persons who receive
stolen goods. How do thieves dispose
Of their booty2 Why, in various ways.
Ii thief has piece of gold or silver
ware, he proceeds to break or bend it in
small pieces and then sells it to be melted
over. An annocent man may purchase
the old metal, believing it to have been
honestly acquired A large quantity Of
plunder goes to the pawnshops. If
well-dressed man goes TO his uncle and
plants down his watch, the proprietor
would not say: Did you steal this9' If
he did he soon would have no business.
The pawnbroker pays license, registers
the article, takes the name and address
given By The person who calls, and keeps
record OF it. Now, you can't call him
a fence, although he is, in many in
stances, receiver of stolen property.
"a large quantity of stolen property is
disposed Of by men on the street or in
saloous. They take watch or ring and
dispose of it to some stranger. The
stranger may be called fence. Again
the thief may invite person to his room
and sell it. There are no witnesses, so
what are you going to do2 / will show
you how hard it is to trace anything. A
lady lost a gold watch and chain few
days ago. and worked the case up. 1t
was found by boy who sold it to clerk
in store. The clerk lived on the east
side, and sold the chain and some trinkets
for old gold. found where he sold them.
The man said he bought the property in
the morning, but that he had sold it to
Mr.. So and So. went to see the latter,
and he in turn had sold the chain for old
gold at the mint The watch was sub
sequently found at a pawnbrokers. There
are number Of men who 60 around to
all the small jewelry stores every day and
buy up old gold and silver. You can't call
them sfences.'n
''How do thieves dispose of silks, satins
and such articles9u
'1Oh, they always have market for
them before they are stolen. heard that
there was man who went and examined
stock of goods and put price on the
lot before it was stolen. Of course a
large .u nifty of stolen property is sent
out Of the city, to be disposed Of. tell
you it is easy enough to say such and
such place is fence, but you'll get
into trouble unless you can provei it.
"There is great traffic in pawn
tickets at present by 'fakirs.' They
form sort Of partnership with some
pawnbroker and get ticket for the full
value Of the article. As pawnbrokers
generally advance but one-third the shark
goes out and sells the ticket for all he
can get. The sucker buys it, thinks he
has good bargain, while in reality heis
cheated. Then the fakir and broker
share the profit. know man who got
swindled with some diamonds the same
way short time ago."