The morning call., 1892-03-19
WALKED INTO A TRAP.
Vendor Of Alleged Struggled
Cigars Neatly Caught.
He Tries to Sell Chinese Smokers as Contra
band Goods to Inspector B. IL Thomas.
He Escapes

Want to buy some smuggled smokers
| Just brought over the Mexican line?'
Where Is the man who has not been ac-
| costed at least once on the street by some
mysteriously acting individual with the
| ABOVE question? Usually the "smuggled-
cigar" vendors are dissipated whites or Chi
nese who show the ravaging effects of opium
IN their emaciated forms and wan cheeks.
with eountrymen and hardly less ignorant
city brothers the question sometimes works
successfully, for it appeals to cupidity where
one does notsknow the cigars have never
peen Struggled over any line, except that
winch separates the Chinese quarter Of our
own city from the adjacent neighborhOod.
but there must be enough dupes to make
the trade profitable one. for the mum Der
| Oh Illicit peddlerS is on the increase.
DO you want some Struggled cigars %
Ihls time ii was pOck-marked Spaniard
/ with dark mustache who spoke. His
neadquarters are near the Grand Hotel and
| LICK House, where grass must have grown
snort" for he was branching out to new
| Held. As high walls and dark halls have n
| peculiar attraction for his kidney, he found
| himself with an older companion wandering
| about in the dark cavernous nav of the
| Appraisers building last evening.
On every side are revenue officers, special
| agents and detectives, and nowhere is there
aperson to be found who has not some off,
| clal connection with our Government. He
had walked into the lions cage. and when
he addressed his trade salutation to In
| spector b. NJ. Thomas he was putting his
head in the lions mouth.
THEY ARE ALL RIGHT.
They are all right, genuine struggled
cigars, he continued. pulling one out.
Smoke it,"
Thomas lighted and took few puffs. 1t
was good cigar-that is part Of his trade.
The next 10000 would have been Chinese
"stinkadOres." ''My, what a good cigar
low do you sell them 2"
We'll | have 500 here will sell for S15,"
pulling from under his coat a box.
They are very cheap. ! see by this
box that IL is from factory rs. which is q
Chinese factory. How is that?'
well, you see tie boxes are shipped to
San Diego and filed there with the snug
| gled cigars"
Il have not got SIS about me-" said Mr..
lhomas. lie wanted 10 get witness, and
| at the same time he on par in number
with his two visitors. "COme into my office
until get friend to lend mo the money"
The men said they wanted no witnesses,
tLat Thomas was SnOkerand good judge
oil cigars Ctheir usual flattery) and they
could do business with him alone. At this
moment CALL reporter happened in. Mr..
Thomas again begun his questioning, but
they refused 10 talk.
A CERTIFICATE ASKED FOR
Turning upon him, with voice of thun-
der. Inspector Thomas demands his certifi-
cate. lie did not have it, but offered TO
send for it, and the older man, whose name
IS X. taldera, went. On his return he
found the wOuld-be vendor in the hands of
United States Marshal Long, while Thomas
was trying TO get warrant for his arrest.
But no commissioner was in the building
commissioners enjoy the unusual privilege
there OF leaving too early on occasions when
they are most needed-and no warrant could
be obtained. United States Assistant Dis
trlct Attorney Shurtliff refused to hold him
over night since the certificate was pro-
duced. although the law requires that it
shall be Immediately produced on inquiry
by the proper officers.
AS Frank Rincon, the thoroughly nom
plused man, and his companion Falderia
left, Thomas said: 81 would give $50 to
hold you over night in the County Jail"
Would you? Well, I'll 60 there and
stay for half that amount"
All! you are too anxious"
Factory l75, where these cigars were
made, Is run by Cinnamon named Chung
G0ey on Dup ont street. The cigars were
confscated by Inspector Thomas