Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-03
By the Receipt of Circulars From a
Detective Agency Threatening
Action in Court for
VIOLATIONS OF TIE LOTTERY LAW
Packages Of Tobacco, Accompanied by
Tickets Calling for Prizes, Put
Under the Counter.
SOME THINK 1T A BIT OF JEALOUSY.
Manufactures Tracing the Matter and Promise ssnss.
tional Results.

The retail tobacco dealers of Pittsburg are
pretty thoroughly scared over the receipt of
circulars threatening them with prosecution
for violation of the new anti-lottery law.
Most Of the retail dealers have been
handling some brands OF tobacco with which
prizes are offered. The bags OF tobacco con-
tain numbered cards and q certain number
Of cards, or complete series OF them, calls
for watch, pipe, or other prize. These
schemes Of introducing brands Of tobacco
have seemingly caught on greatly, and
nearly all OF the dealers have stock on
hand.
On receiving the circulars some Of them
were very scared and put the tobacco under
their counters. The circular 10 signed by
W. =. Hazep, Superintendent OF Hszen's
Detective Agency, Cincinnati. 1t reads as
iollowss
The anti.Lottery Association has been or.
ganized for the purpose Of securing the prose.
cution of all persons violating tho anti'lottery
law recently passed by the United States Con-
gress, and prosecuting all persons who, as prin-
cpals, or as aiders and abettors, seek to in
crease the sale of tobacco, baking powder,
watches, candy. or other articles Of merchan-
WARNING OF PROSECUTIONS.
The undersigned has been employed by said
association to prosecute persons violating the
laws of your State, a copy of which is herewith
inclosed, against lotteries and schemes of
chance. You are hereby notified, if engaged in
the sale of any article of merchandise put on
the market by persons, partnerships or corpora
tions who agree TO give the purchasers of said
articles money, watches or property of any
kind, by means OF any lottery or scheme of
chance, unless the same is discontinued you
will be prosecuted for violation of the law.
Each tobacco man is puzzled to know why
he in particular was sent the intended warn
ing, and that by detective agency. Some
have an idea that the circular is scheme
pushed by rival tobacco firms Others think
it may be the work of the big Southern
lottery company, which hopes by such
means to make the new law so odious in its
application that it will be repealed.
ONE FIRM REAssURED.
Browne Brothers, the Smithfeld street
dealers, were among those who received the
circulars. They were in quandary what to
do in the matter until Mr.. J. A. Barry, the
general agent for one firm offering prizes
with its tobacco, called at the store. Mr..
Barry assured them that the circular was
harmless, and that there was no danger in
selling the tobacco. The tobacco was then
again put on sale SIS before. A number of
other firms visited by DISPATCH reporters
have not vet decided whether TO run any
risk in the matter.
Mr.. Barry was seen later by DISPATCH
reporter. He said he had been notified of
the deluge OF circulars being sent to Pitts
burg, and had hurried on from Philadel-
phia to counteract their effect. He learned
that Indiana and Delaware, as well as
Pennsylvania, are being flooded with the
circulars. He said that no information
could be obtained regarding the prime
movers in the scheme to stop the sale of
such tobaccos. All that is known is that
Hazen's Detective Agency is taking the in
itiation in the crusade, so far. Who the
Anti-Lottery Association represents, or
whether it exists at all, Mr.. Barry says, can
not be ascertained, though detectives have
been employed for that purpose.
The detective agency has brought action
at different times and in different States
against the tobacco companies, but has not
vet secured a conviction. In no instance.
up to the present time, have the attacks been
directed toward the retail dealers. A grand
bill, and case brought to the courts in Gin
cinnati was dropped. Another case, now
pending in the Cincinnati courts, has been
postponed from time to time and is still
tagging along. with no definite action.
SENSATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS AWAITED.
Hazen's Detective Bureau, of Cincinnati,
is reputed to be managed by responsible
persons, but 1t is the secret motive, If any
exists, Of the employers of the agency, to
which the tobacco firms interested are now
directing their attention. Some sensational
developments are promised in the future.
On the other hand, it is asserted that the
Anti-Lottery Association is q reality; that
certain men have banded themselves To-
gether to see the precepts of the new law
carried out to the letter. II this be so, then
there still comes the hitch as to whether the
law affects the methods of introducing goods
referred to. A test case may soon be made,
the contest carried to the limit, and the
whole inwardness OF the detective agency's
actions laid bare.