The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1891-12-28
How Pawn Ticket Broker Man
ages 70 Make a Living.
SAMPLE DAYS WORK,
His Method Is to Attend a Pawnbroker's
Sale, Buy In Goods, Then Repawn
Them, and Afterwards Float the
Tickets Among His Friends.

That man Is Dobson.
He said TO me the other day. with a
shrewd twinkle in his eyes, that business
would soon be lively again"
"Dobson," | rejoined, with every mark
OF honor, sir (for in your dealings your
friends say you are the pink of cour tesy
and the soul Of integrity with every
honor, sir, let me attend you for day and
see how you handle the tickets"
with pleasure" said the little man;
"come right along now; am on the trail
OF several good things"
We went over TO pawnbroker's place in
the Bowery where a sale Of forfeited chat
tells had been announced, the bargains To
be offered without reserve.
There was dense jam in the rooms.
The sale had begun before we arrived. 1t
was the usual unloading Of the Thousand
and one effects left in an everyday pawn
shop. The auctioneer offered several
watches, then put up diamond ring.
Dobson examined the ring with his little
microscope and then cautiously bid three
dollars
Five" said a voice in the corner.
Five twenty-five" repeated Dobson.
'Seventy-tve."
Six"
Ten"
Twelve"
Take it, Mr. Dob.on," said the auc-
tioneer.
Then the broker bid in two gold watches
Mt ten dollars each and a chip diamond for
Two dollars more. A cake basket was then
offered.
Some one bid forty cents. Dobson made
IL fifty, then sixty, then seventy-dve, then
one dollar, then quarter more, then "A
half, then three quarters and
And Mr. Dobson shrewdly dropped out.
for, as he said afterward, some one was
only leading him on in the interest of the
house.
In half an hour Mr.. Dobson, the broker
had invested about fifty dollars, and in
turn had received four watches, two rings,
gold brooch, three raZors, a pair of sec
ondhand trousers, q rusty set OF surgical
instruments and violin.
Mr.. Dobson then withdrew from the sale
Later in the day he attended another
foreclosure sale and purchased five more
watches, three rings, two gotd eh aims, "A
marine glass, dress suit and set of box
ing gloves and foils. He packed all his
goods in two satchels and started for
home, as it was now too late TO do any
business that day.
Bright and early next morning I went
by appointment to Mr.. Dobsons room
and assisting him with one Of the satchels,
we started out, Mr.. Dobson to ply his
strange calling. We trudged along over
toward the Bowery.
"What will you give me for this fine
hunting case watch, Felix?" asked Mr.. Dob
son of a pawnbroker friend near Chatham
square.
What do you want on it?" he asked.
"Thirty dollars
''Tll give you twelve"
"Take it,"
Felix made out check for the watch.
Dobson offered Felix two rings and a
chain, and after some bargaining the deal
was made.
In each case tickets were given.
We then passed on to half a dozen pawn
shops. In one we sold the dress suit for
seven dollars, the boxing gloves and foils
went for two dollars more and two more
rings were disposed of at IS 10. Tickets
were obtained ia each instance.
In the next half hour we had sold three
more watches, the marine glass, the razors,
the clothes-and all that remained was the
set of surgical instruments. These proved
difficult TO dispose of to any advantage, but
sacrifice.
Mr.. Dobson, his goods all placed, dis
posed of the two satchels at fair figure,
and was now ready for his business proper
as a broker in pawn tickets. He eyed them
narrowly, wondering how much profit
there was in them.
We counted over the tickets and found
that they were sixteen in number and ag-
gregated seventy-five dollars, face value.
1t was now about o'clock. "Come with
me-" said Mr.. Dobson, leading the way into
a tenement in Hester street.
What for'"
II have customer up here"
Jake" said Mr.. Dobson to young man
up stairs, 'are you still going with Han
nahW
why"
well, it's nearly time that you bought
her present. DO you want a chancer
Have you bargain, Mr.. Dobsoni"
"Look at this. Here is ticket for
lady's gold watch. twelve carats fine, good
machine movement, enameled cases, stem
winder. saw the watch myself. 1t is a
beauty. This ticket will redeem il for
seven dollars. Give me tbEee dollars for
the bargain, Jake. and you can make Han
nah happy"
Jake hesitated.
Its only ten dollars, and tell you IL is
a real bargain )"
The deal was closed, and Mr.. Dobson and
went away
Next the pawn ticket broker led me to a
saloon where he was known. There was a
large crowd sitting at the tables. Mr.. Dob
son was gone about half an hour, during
which time / saw him offer ticket after
ticket, here and there, to the men at the
tables, all the while explaining in low
tone the value Of his goods.
When we went out he had sold FIVE tick
pts, making something on each, the net
profit being $50.
As we passed along, the genial broker
never missed his opportunity TO greet a
friend and offer tickets In an hour he had
sold two more.
Then business became somewhat de-
pressed. In the next two hours only one
ticket was sold.
Mr.. Dobson then visited in quick success
sion half a dozen saloons where he was
noyp fayorablv