St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-06-16
CAUGHT AT THEIR GAME.
A ssCigar Auct1on'' Scheme Exposed
by a Globe Reporter.
Plan With a Detective by Which the
Concern Was Closed.

For several days past persons passing
down Washington avenue south have been
attracted by red auction flag in front of
No. ZIG, where an oStensible auction of
cigars was being carried on. Inside the
store a number of placards graced the wall
and read, "NO cigars sold by the box"
Job lots only sold. "''Goods shipped daily"
To verdant these signs were calculated
to convey the idea that large numbers of
cigars were being shipped to all parts of
the country daily, and that the business
was conducted in a perfectly square and
honest manner. To the initiated, how
ever, the Swindle was perfectly plain, and
OF sufficient proportions to send every per-
son engaged in it to the state prison. A
GLOBE reporter went into the place yester-
day noon, and. seeing how things were.
thought to have some fun and at the same
time close up the place. He accordingly
appeared very green, and watched the
''cappers" bid on the cigars with interest.
When a lot OF ten boxes was knocked down
to one Of them for only So he expressed his
surprise that SO many boxes should be sold
so cheaply.
ooh, that's nothing said the auctioneer;
''you have the same opportunity on this lot
How much Will you give for the ten boXes?''
Pleading a lack of funds the newspaper
man went out, saying he would call again.
The mayor was seen, and after explaining
to him the game he detailed detective to
close the place. The reporter, together
with friend and followed by the detective,
went back to the auction" store.
and after seeing several lots of
cigars, ten boxes in each lot, knocked
down to ''coppers," began to bid. His OPP
ponent was one of the ''pluggers,' and the
lot was finally knocked down to the re-
porter for 50. The auctioneer called an as
sistant, who took his place, while he took
the ten boxes to rear counter, where he
wrapped up one box.
How much did you pay the cashier?'' in
quired he, as the newspaper man reached for
the pile knowing that he would not get them.
Upon being told, he said:
'.Well, here is bill for S19 you must pay.
You bid 81 for each box, and now you must
take the lot, as you see our signs say we only
sell by the lot
The reporter protested that he had
bought the entire ten boxes for So, and
called his friend to prove it. The auction
eer was preparing to argue the matter with
the supposed ''chump," when the detective
appeared, as per agreement He pretended
he did not know the newspaper man. and
asked what the trouble was, and on being
told, promptly caused the place to be closed
up, as he had been ordered to do. The
supposed sucker did not care about carry
ing away his ten boxes of cigars. fearing
that to smoke one of them would bring on
an attack of brain fever, cholera, or
something of that sort. His So was re-
turned to him by the auctioneer, whose face
was a study. The names of the men oper-
ating this brilliant scheme were ri. Levi,
proprietor; G. W. Brown, auctioneer; Max
Stems, Grant Stevens and T. S. Conant,
'cappers" or ''pluggers." They were all
glad enough to get off with warning to
close, and one OF them remarked, as the
reporter went out:
I told you not to work that man. I knew
when he came in he would cause us trouble
Those newspaper fellows are all the time
working up some scheme.