Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-01-29

The Protector OF NiekeI-siot Ma
chine Jailed by Creditors.


Marques. who succeeded in interesting
many of his friends in a stock company
called the Automatic Vending Company,
which owns the automatic boxes exposed
in ferry-houses, depots, and hotels. ont
OF which person can be served with a
box of cachous or a package Of cigarettes
by dropping a nickel in the slot, has
been since Thursday last in Ludlow
Street jail. One Werner, who has been
on intimate terms with Marques, entered
suit against him TO recover SJOO, Wnich
the alleged Marques had fraudulently
obtained from him. Order Of arrest was
served so quietly that only the pIalntih
and some others interested IN keeping
the slippery Spectator within reach
knew that the doors of the Jail had
closed on him. They have been more
than surprised that agentleman claiming
three quarters of million capital ana
extensive acquaintance among wealthy
end influential men permitted himself to
languish in jail rather than furnish the
tridlng bail demanded. Yet such is the
fact and if the prisoner should bestir
himself to find bail on the particular
suit mentioned, it is said that legion OF
other creditors would pnt their claims
in similar course OF collection.
OPERATIONS IN PHILADELPHIA.
One of his first steps was to have one
of the automatic machines placed In r
conspicuous spot in the Continental
Hotel, Philadelphia. The way that box
corralled the nickels was revelation to
the Philadelphians. and Marques never
tired of opening the money-drawer and
showing his wealthy friends the nickel
stream that il was damming. Within a
few weeks those friends who were In
duced to advance money rs contributions
to the stock have had their suspicious
painfully aroused that Marques had had
those boxes sailed. That is, he had en-
ployed boys to gather around the boxes
and drop in showers Of nlckeis which he
bad supplied them for that specific pur-
pose. At all events the nickel fountain
always jetted much more copiously while
he was in town than it did while ne was
away
Two or three months ago Marques
cash seemed to grow less plentiful. He
told his friends that his large operations
in stocks and the funds needed to Hood
the vending company had placed him IN
temporary stress, and borrowed from all
who would lend He was acheerIul Dor
rover, invariably returning the lender
heavy interest in the shape OF dinners,
drinks, and the most expensive OF cigars.
la fact, it got TO be sort OF standing
Joke among the cOterie that II Marquis
borrowed 800 he lavished half of 1t ut
once on the lender.
Some of them wish now that they had
not accepted such usurl0us interest,
while others rejoice that they got any
sort of return for their investments IN
him. Ii was rather serious matter to
the Bellevue's cashier, who invested $3.50
of hard-earned money in the vending
machine company. There are showers
of small amounts from $75 to 500, the
lenders of which are thinking of club
bing their claims and prosecuting for
their recovery. Some of these sums
were obtained through dishonored
drafts. Thomas Potter, Jr., OF the great
oilcloth manufacturing firm of Thomas
Potters Sons q Co., dropped $3.50 il the
slot of Marques's scheme and snapped
checks with him, each piece OF Rlper
calling for 81 900, but that signed by
Marques was returned emo funds, and
now the oilcloth manufacturer and the
Spectator are no longer bosom friends.
HIS NEW YORK METHODS.
The New York creditors almost with
out exception became interested in
Marques through the Automatic Nend-
ing Company. He succeeded in en-
gaging quite a number OF persons who
habitualy take speculative flyers with
the surplus OF their incomes. Marques
doomed up in their vision over year
ago. He had become possessed OF the
secret of the London Vending Com
panys machines, and, representing that
it was not patented i'll this country, set
about getting capital to float his pro-
iected company. The machines as used
in London enter into many lines OF
traffic. and the company owning
them has prOspered greatly. This fact
proved of vast advantage TO Marques,
who had little difficulty in getting
cash enough to make begin
ming. He contracted for the manuiac-
ture of the machines III Brooklyn and
everything was going on swlmmingly
when the London company obtained IN
functions that for awhile seemed death
blow to the enterprise. Marques, how
ever, proved equal 10 the occasion. Re
presenting that his labors in New York
had resulted in the best sort OF an intro
duction for the London patent he pre-
vailed on that concern to give him a slice
ia its stock as well as permission TO man
ufacture and operate the two styles Of
machines, the secret OF which he pos
sessed. Ii WAS on this basis that he re-
newed his efforts to float the New York
company.
CLANS or 100000.
1t is said that the claims against Mar
cues aggregate nearly $4,000. In one
Of his trips to Philadelphia Marques
took along with him Mir. A. W.
Hegger. whom he introduced TO his
Philadelphia acquaintance as "worth
$500, 000." Hegger does not deny
this soft Impeachment, but has
developed great anxiety to reduce to
possession that portion OF 1t which he
invested in the company. He claims
now to be the sole owner of what is lett
of that company and after careful
examination Of its assets doesn't think
they will realize ) per cent. OF his own
investment.
"Why, there's nothing in it, Hegger
said. 1.-The two styles Of the machines
that we are permitted to operate are the
least productive of all. Moreover, a ais
honest purchaser can empty the boxeso
all the valuable merchandise by dropping
in single nickel. It's good for no.
thing"