Omaha daily bee., 1888-09-16
35c a Pair.
MORSE eco

sold to one OF them for $40, and the auc-
%tioneer asks the victim to pay MIN 81
commission. If the victim hesitates,
and wants to see the color of the buyers
money, the following little comedy is
played for his especial benefit:
Capper No. l displays his money, and
says: Before paying for the watch, Mr..
Anctioneer, | want you to write me out
aguarantee that it is solid gold"
A~uctioneer-I can't do that, this
watch is only a common brass watch.
Capper No. 1.-The deuce it is! Turn
ing to victim) Don't you know, sir,
that you have been guilty of trying to
obtain money under false pretenses?
Capper No. 2 to No. 1-You ought to
hand him over TO the police for trying
to swindle you.
The victim turns to the a%uctioneer,
rants his watch back so hat he can
make his escape and is informed that
he must pay 81 commission or forfeit
the watch. 1t isn't the a~uctioneer's
fault that the sale fell through. He
would not misrcpresent the goods he
sells!
The "philanthropist" tells the victim
that they had better leave, before the
patrol wagon arrives, and they depart
In different directions. II the victim
should meet a policeman, he will avoid
him, as he thinks he has rendered him
self liable to the ~penitentiary.
Should a person enter one OF these
dens to realize on a good watch, pretty
much the same tactics will be employed.
The watch, for example, has a CONNER
cial value of $40. 1t will be sold to one
of the cappers for $40, making S4 COM
mission for the auctioneer. The capper
| will ntfpr IN nav hla nnSh nn1 niua hic
note for the balance. The victim OBJ
jects to this, and is informed that he
did not say he wanted the watch sold
for cash, but as there is a misunder-
standing, the auctioneer will again
offer the watch for sale and will not
charge the victim n commission un-
less he effect a cash sale; this agreed to
and the two cappers bid against each
other, raising their bids a small amount
each time, until it is knocked down to
one of them for 81, which he pays to
the a~uctioneer, who deducts "a commits
sion for the first sale, 20 cents for the
second, and hands the victim the bal
ance.
Another pretty trick is to display
forty of fifty cuff buttons worth about
8 cents each to cry a bid of 80 cents
for the lot. The capper informs the
prospective buyer that that is cheap for
the lot. The victim bids 55 cents, pay
his money, and is handed one pair and
informed that he can have the whole
OF nj So cents a pair.
II, while the auctioneer is endeavor-
ing to sell a plated brass watch, Q
stranger should ask him if it is gold,
the auctioneer will reply: Every
particle Of gold in the cases is eighteen
karat fine" but he takes good care not
to tell how few particles Of gold are used
in plating a brass watch. The expires.
sion, Every particle of gold in the
case is eighteen karat fine, and
guarantee there is no brass, com
position or any base metal whateve vel
in the cases." applies to a silver watch
that has been gold plated. In this case
the ~auctioneer is telling the truth
although his intention is to make hi
audience believe he is Offering a sole
gold watch for sale.
These are substantially the method;
by which hundreds Of persons hav,
been swindled out Of their money
Some OF these dens have been operated
for a number OF years, and as each ha
TO support at least four persons, one ma.
Judge the number Of their victims.
Every a%uctioneer has To give q 81 800
bond before he can obtain a license