The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-06-16
FENCES"
PLACES WHERE THIEVES DIS
POSE OF THEIR PLUMBER.
Jewelry Shops Where Plunder is
Called "Old Gold and Silver
Devious Ways Of Men Who
Deal in Stolen Property.

saws it is charged that many JeWelry
stores trade with thieves in stolen goods.
It 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 tn
queen of fences" Mother Mandelbaum,
was arrested 1t is authoritatively said,
however, that there are stores not alone
on Sixth avenue and the Bowery, but
| right down in the centre of the jewelry
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 ''old gold
and silver is bought can be noticed in
most jewelry stores. Of course some do
q legitimate trade, but there are many
others who do not. 1t is a simple matte:
to buy old metal, thrust it into Il pot and
melt it up. The question is generally
asked if there are no 'fences," how and
where do the thieves dispose of their
plunder2
\ well-known detective of one of the
most important precincts in the city,
when questioned IN regard to the matter,
: said: II don't believe there is what you
can really call fence in the city to-
day. Remember, l don't mean to say
that there are no persons who receive
stolen goods. How do thieves dispose
of their booty? Why, in various ways.
If 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 annoceat man may purchase
the old metal, believing it to have been
honestly acquired A large quantity Of
plunder goes to the pawnShops. If
weli-dre:scd man goes to his uncle and
plants down his watch, the proprietor
would not say: Did you steal thisr If
be did be soon would have no business.
The pawnbroker pays a license, registers
the article takes the name and address
given by the person who calls, and keeps
q record Of it. Now, you can't call him
fence although he is, in many in
stances, receiver of stolen property.
IA 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 a fence Again
the thief may invite a person to his room
and sell it. There are no witnesses. so
what are you going to do? I will show
you how hard it is to trace anything. A
lady lost gold watch and chain few
days ago, and I worked the case up. 1t
was found by a boy who sold it to clerk
in a store. The clerk lived on the east
side, and sold the chain and some trinkets
for old gold. Ifound 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. l went to see the latter.
and he in turn had sold the chain for old
gold at the mint. The watch was sub
sequcntly found at pawnDrokers. There
are q number of men who go around to
all the small iewelry stores every day and
buy up old gold and silver. You can't call
them fences"
GLOW do thieves dispose of silks, satins
and such articlesf'
"Oh, they always have market for
them before they are stolen. l heard that
there was man who went and examined
stock of goods and put price on the
lot before it was stolen. OF course q
large quantity of stolen property is sent
out of the city, to be dispo Led Of. I tell
you it is easy enough to say such and
such a place is a fence: but you'll get
into trouble unless you can proveit.
There is great traffic lii pawn
tickets at present by 'fakirs.' They
| form sort of nartnerShin 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."