Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-09
'snoCTORs ARE NOT THE ONLY PER-


the weather." observed a member of the de-
tective corps few days ago when young man
In distress walked out Of the Office after hav-
ing accomplished the object Of his visit. The
weather was exceedingly cold, and still the
young man was not wearing an overcoat 1t
was the absence of that necessary garment that
caused him to visit Inspector Swindells The
young man was the owner Of an overcoat, and
| the fact that he did not wear i. that day was
because he had loaned it to Ibis uncle"
The weather the day before was warm and
the young man was in need of funds. He
wanted small amount Of cash and great deal
depended upon his getting it. His overcoat
was about the most valuable and least useful
article he had at that time, and SO he pawned it.
Night came on and Uncle Jerry Rusk's predic-
ton proved untrue. Instead of continuance
OF the mild weather, the cold winds appeared
and played hide and seek about the young
mans sack coat.
The following morning there came q remit
tance from another part of tho country and
the one who had suffered for want of his over
coat had the money necessary to redeem it.
but when he went tor it he learned to his sur
prise that the law stood between the pawn
broker and himself and that he could not get
his coat much less than forty-eight hours from
the time 1t was pawned.
A note from the chief Of the detectives, how
ever, operated as a sort of suspension of the
law, and the youngsman. was made happy for at
least once in his life by being given an oppor-
tunity TO secure his coat before the cold
weather was over
There are several regulations prescribed by
Congress and the Commissioners which are re-
quIred to be observed by the pawnbrokers, and
most OF the sections are applicable as we'll to
the junk dealers and dealers in secondhand
clothing.
REGULATIONS PRESCRIBED BY LAW.
Under the law the pawnbrokers pay an an
nual license of Si00 and the law says: "Any
person, corporation, member or members of a
corporation or firm who loans money on de-
posts or pledge on personal property or other
valuable thing other than securities or printed
evidences OF indebtedness, or who deals in the
purchasing of personal property or other valu-
able thing on condition of selling the same back
again at a stipulated price, is hereby declared
and fined to be a pawnbroker."
Under the law secondhand dealer is any
person who purchases and sells second hand
clothing and other articles, and the regular
junk dealers, who operate under the same
license arc not under The same regulations the
latter being exempted from making certain re-
ports
After providing for the license tax the law
provides for bond of 50, 900, to be given by
the person SO licensed, for the due opserv-
ance of all such acts OF the Congress of the
spectlng pawnbrokers at any time during tho
continuance of such lice nse, and saws: IF any
person shall be aggrieved by the misconduct of
any such licensed pawnbroker, and shall re-
cover Judgment against him therefor such
person may, after the return dissatisfied, either
In whole or part, of any execution issued upon
SAID judgment, maintain an action in his own
name upon the bond OF said pawnbrok in any
court having jurisdiction of the amount
claimed, provided such court shall. upon nm
DllcatIOQ made for the i,
leave to prosecute"
HAVE TO KEEP A BOOK.
Every pawnbroker is required to keen
book in which shall be written, at the time of
each loan. an accurate account and description
OF the goods, article or thing pawned or
pledged, the amount of money loaned thereon.
the time OF pledging the same, the rate OF in
terest to be paid on such loan. and the name
and residence of the person pawning or
pledgng the said goods, article or thing, to-
gether with particular description of
such person, including complexion, color Of
eyes and hair, and his or her height and gen
erai appearance.
This book shall, at all reasonable times. be
open to the inspection of the Commissioners Of
the District. judges OF criminal courts and the
police department..
The law provides that goods in the hands of
pawnbrokers shall not be sold until after the
expiration OF one year from the time the arti.
Gle is pawned, and then only after being adyer.
tlsed for six days previous to the date of SALE
section unknown to many persons who pawn
articles Is section 10 of the act, which provides
that the surplus money, if any, arising from
any such sale. after deducting the amount of
the loan, the interest then due on the same and
the expenses of the advertisement and sale
shall be paid over by the pawnbroker to the
person who would be entitled to redeem the
pledge in case no such sale had taken place"
Articles received by junk dealers are to be
tiSDOsCu Qnuer amended NH ;ob
reads: That sale shall be made by Junk
dealers and dealers in secondhand personal
property in their possession until after the
expiration OF ten days from and after tine time
at which report has been made TO the major of
police Of the purchase thereof. as provided by
the police regulations Of the District of Column
bia."
Under section 1 of the police regulations
every pawn6roker, junk dealer or person en-
gagged In the second hand clothing business
shall keep at his place of business a book or
books III which shall be written at the time of
each loan or transaction in the course OF his
business an accurate account OF such loan or
transaction Except in the case Of junk dealers
as to the purchase of rags, bones old iron and
paper. setting forth description of the goods.
article or thing pawned, purchased or received
on account of money loaned thereon or paid
therefor; the time of receiving the same; the
name and residence OF the person pawning.
selling or delivering the same; the terms and
conditions OF loan, purchase or receipt thereof
including the period for which any such loan
may be made, and all other facts and circum-
stances respecting such loan, purchase or re-
ceipt; which said book or books shall at all
times be subject to the inspection OF the major
of police or any officer OF the metropolitan DO
lice force OF the District OF Columbia by him
authorized in that behalf.
REPORTS TO THE POLICE.
Following this is a section which provides for
daily reports to be made to the chief Of police,
and this particular branch of the service is
under the personal supervision of Detective
Proctor, and it is in this way that great many
stolen articles are recovered.
Probably the article which is objected to
most by the dealers is section Of the act which
says:
ut shall be the duty Of every pawnbroker,
junkdealer or person engaged in the second
hand clothing business. and of every person
in the employ OF such, to admit to his prem
Uses at any time any member OF the Metropo!i-
tan police force of the District Of Columbi as
Aforesaid; to examine any pledge or pawn book
or other record on the premises, as well rs the
| articles pledged, purchased or received, and to
search for and take into possession any article
known by him to be missing, or known or be-
lieved by him to have been stolen, without the
| formality of the writ of search warrant or any
other process, which search or seizure is
hereby authorized
The pawnbrokers are permitted to charge
| per cent per month, and where the loan is
| secured by the pledge OF personal property re-