St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-09-08
BUT CENSURES HIS METHOD.
~
Some Red-Hot Testimony
Given by Jewellers on
Seventh Street
PROVED TO BE ALL HEARSAYi
a.
Pavian Seems to Have EN-.
ployed Campers" to Draw g
People inside. -,

The license of Louis Pavian, who
runs an auction store on East Seventh
street. near Robert. will not be revoked.
After listening to testimony for two
hours last evening, the joint council
committee on licenses decided that
there was no evidence to show that any,
body had been detrauded by Pavian or
his employees. or had not received the
worth OF his money as retail sales 20. The
committee did find, however, that OBJ
Jectlonable methods were employed to
effect sales, and i'll its report to the
council will celfsure Mr.. Pavian. and
recommend that the authorities keep
auction stores under stricter surveii-
lance. The Objectionable feature of
the business, SO the committee finds,
Is the employment of "cappers" or
''pluggers" for the purpose Ut entlcing
those VINO stool into the auction places
to buy watches when they do not want
them. 1
Most OF the Testimony given last night
came from the alleged victims Of Mr.
Pavian's auctioneers. None of the wit.
lesses were sworn. After Chief of
Police Clark had informed the commit
tee regarding the complaints lie had re
ceived, and how lie had sent some Of his
meu down to Pavian's, who got tho
money back for the complainants, sew
eral gentlemen entertained the commit
tee by recounting their experiences in
the place. 1t was the same old "auc-
ton fake" story in every instance. The
victim" didn't want to buy watch,
but lie stepped into the store to see
what was going Oh. A few minutes
later imam would rush in with a
watch he wanted to raise money
on. The auctioneer would offer
TO Sell for him. Alter the ''pluggers"
had bid it up to the desired figure the
auctiOneer would ask the "victin' to
bid it in for him, as he could not bid,
after which he assured him that he
would return the money. The victim"
would bid. and then the auctioneer
would refuse to give him the money,
but instead make The bidder lake the
watch. 80,
But every witness who testified last
night could not show that he had not
received 81
The Worth of His Money \
Andrew WeXaiSon. a machinist. didn't
want watch. but bid SIS for one A
ieweler doing business close by Pavian's
place told WeXelson that the watch was
worth about 81 %. Thereupon Wexel7
sou got detective to go to Pdvian'S
with MIN, where he readily indnced the
auctioneer to return him his S25. Lars
Larson bid $50 for watch when he had
only S. in his pocket. He paid the IS
on account. and says they told him be
could get his money back in few days.
When he returned afterwards they
would not give up the money, but in
stead gave him silver watch. This
watch Larson produced last night. and
ASSemblyman Arosin, who URGED the
investigation, admitted 1T was worth 50.
The excitement was furnished by b.
Reed, a jeweler doing business at 1872
East Seventh street. Mr.. Reed
is a nervous, excilabIe little man,
who hates MIR. Pavian with
bitterness as fierce as it may be
righteous. With a tiuency that could
not be checked, Mr.. Reed proceeded to
put long knife into Dir. PAWN and to
turn it around with savage rapitilty.
He spoke of Pavlan's ''cappers," walk
ing sticks" and ''conspira;orS."
Excited Witness.
"You should see his place running in
full bloom" exclaimed Mr.. Reed, eX-
citedly. Then look at it a few minutes
later. It's different then. AS soon as a
sucker is done up. business is closed y"
Mr. Reed closed his testimony by re.
marking that one Frank Walker, of
Faribau!t, was one of the victims who
hade made mice investment in Pa
VANS place"
Then Pavian took Reed in hand and
tried to show that Reed used to be in
cahoots with certain auction man and
| recommended his fake goods"
That's lie if you say sol" shouted
a man who proved to be Mr.. Myers, an
employe or partner of Reed.
Chairman Van Slyke called tae men
to order, and then to the surprise of all
Frank Walker. the Faribault man who,
according to Reed. was victim, put In
an appearance. He was asked to relate
| his experience. He did so, and much to
| the discontinue of Mir. Reed. Walker
| said that he bought IA watch at Pavlan's
! for 500 which he afterwards sold to a
friend for s25. Every jeweler he saw,
except Reed, told him, he said, that he
had got the watch cheap.
MIR. Pavian's lawyer, Judge Schoon-
maker, then made an argument i'll his