New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-06-26
LOTTERY PAPERS SEIZED.
MR.. cOMsToCK GATHERS IN A LOT OE
HAVANA TICKETS AND CIRCULARS.

BANK NOTE COMPANY AND THE LOTTERY
AGENTS HAD AN OFFICE AT NOS. 90 AND
os MAIDEN IANE-THE AUTHORITIES
SAID 70 BE LOOKING FOR con-
FEDERArEs IN OTHER CITIES -
STATEMENT OF AN EMPIOYE OF
THE BANK NOTE COMPANY
NO ARRESTS MADE.
One OF the largest and most important seizures
OF lottery circulars and tickets made In this
city came to light yesterday. The seizure was
made by Anthony Comstock Monday afternoon,
but did not become public till yesterday. The
tickets were those OF the Supplementary Royal
Havana Lottery Company. although 1t is alleged
that the tickets did not have the word lottery
printed or engraved on them The alleged illegal
printing was found on Monday in the storerooms
Of the American Bank Note Company, Nos. 7S to
So Trinity Place and in an office upon the third
floor Of the building at Nos. 96 and SS Maiden
Lane, which has for some time been open. ostensi-
bly, as the New-York office Of Western soap
manufacturing company.
HOW THE SEIZURE WAS MADE.
Shortly after O. clock, according to the tenants
OF the Maiden Lane building, Mr. Comstock 40
companied by two policemen, went to the ofice on
the third floor, occupied by c. +. Gruber. There
was some loud talk and those passing by a little
later saw the policemen turning the room upside
down under the direction OF M. Comstock They
departed an hour later taking with them 100000 or
the alleged lottery tickets and an equal number OK
circular said to set forth in glowing terms the
inducements offered the public by the Havana
Lottery Company In addition a number OF the
drawing lists for July and August drawings were
found The property was taken to Mr.. Com
! in me Ruding closely
examined There 1t was found that the name OF
the American Bank Note Company had been en-
graved in a lower corner upon all Of them, signi-
flying that that company were the printers Tne
same name also on the two tickets WHICH
were secured by Mr.. Comstock several days De-
fore and which were the clew which LED 70 the
seizure. Although Mr.. Comstock had gotten
search warrant for the building occupied by the
| bank company. he did not care 10 go there
| until he found neither or not the companys
| name appeared upon all the tickets Finding II
| did. he then went 70 the companys ofnces ana
| informed President McDonough and Secretary
| Treasurer Theodore Freeand that he had come 70
search the place.
| They asked what he wanted and were in
| formed that he was after the tickets and plates
OF the Supplementary Royal Havana Company.
| Mr. McDonough and Mr.. Freeland then gave TO
| Mr.. Comstock about 1900 Of the tickets ana
| twenty-four eectrotypes OF them They declined
| to make any statement Mr.. Comstock In re"
| gard to the matter
WARRANTS THAT WERE NOT SERVED.
Early yesterday morning Alr. Comstock went 70
the Tombs Police Court, where he spent con-
| siderable time with the warrant clerk, who, II -
understood issued number OF warrants for the
arrest OF those connected with The circulation OK
the tickets These warrants. however, had not
been served up a late nour last evening
| Mr. Comstock then went to the Federal Build
ing where he had long consultation with Post-
office Inspector Ashe In the latters office.
Mr. Cornstock said yesterday that In the ofhce
| in Maiden Lane he found the man known as Q.
| T. Gruber Tom" Scarlon and Tom Sport
hard at work scanlon and Sport, Mr. Comstock
said We're evidently the clerks. He explained
how he had found a number OF books in which
| the records Of the circulation Of the tickets were
kept. and which showed that the tickets had
| been disposed OF in classes OF from 100 TO loo0
! each The books showed that the scheme had
| been carefully planned. and that agents had been
secured In all Of the larger cities throughout the
! United States. None OF the tickets pore me
/ name lottery" upon them. AT the top was the
| !nscrlpton supplement 10 the Royal Havana.
! The tickets were signed with what appeared to
be the steel-plate engraving of the autograph
| signature OF Gould * Co" Mr.. Comstock insists
| there Is NJ such firm In existence
| raid was made several years ago by Mr..
] COmStOck
at No. l2ll Broadway. and another AT No -
| Maiden Lane. The man. Sport. found In the
raid Of Monday, was also in the Maiden Lane
place when the raid was made, and an indict-
ment against him for his connection with the
| concern, was subsequently, secured. The
papers in the case, along with those IN twenty
| four similar cases had been lost In the Dis
| trict-Attorney's office. Mr. Comstock said, but
| hoped that in the examine ton now being made
there that all might come to light. when asked
what arrests were to follow. and whether he
| intended to prosecute the American Bank Note
| Company for printing the tickets. Mr. Comstock
said that he was not al liberty TO outline his
plans at present as 1t would only defeat the
ends OF Justice When asked who the man
| Gruber was and II he knew him. Mr.. Comstock
again asked TO be excused. and told Of an incident
connected with the raid. Among other things
in the place In Maiden Lane he said, was one
| package addressed to ST. Louis. AS he picked
| IL up Gruber said that as the package bore
United States stamps. he dare not open 1t. but
| Mr. Comstock knew the laws and his rights. and
| tore the package open. 1t contained number
| OF tickets like those seized and lot OF circu-
lars.
At the office in Maiden Lane. all was dark.
and the janitor said that no one had been there
during the day. The place had been rented
few weeks ago To Mr.. Gruber TO be used. the
| janitor understood. as the New-fork once OK
! Western soap factory The office boys in the
adjoining Offices however. say that Mr. Gruber
often employed some Of them to carry large
sack of mail to the Postotfce Although none
! of the three were under arrest. they ala not ap-
pear at the office yesterday nor could their ao-
dresses be found.
PROBABLY SEEKING THE CONFEDERATES.
AT the Astor House. where Inspector Ashe. OF
the Postofice Department. lives when In the city.
it was said that he hurredly left the city yester
day afternoon. and did not leave his address.
From this 1t is supposed that he has gone to Sc
cure the arrest Of the agents Of the concern In
other cities. through the Federal authorities.
This is thought TO be the reason that the arrests
were not made on the warrants secured In the
Tombs By Mr.. Comstoch yesterday morning The
| authorities probably fear that II they place the
New York people under arrest the confederates In
! other cities will 20 into hiding.
At the office OF the American Bank Note Com.
pany It was said that the president. the secretary
and treasurer and the superintendent had de-
parted for the day. One OF the employees said
! that the firm had been printing the same tickets
for the last ten years. 10 his knowledge and that