The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-29
THE CONVICTED TICKET soA1pERs.
One or Them Proposed to Add Forgery 70 His
Crime--An OmciSIa Comment.

One or Them Proposed to Ada FORGERY % HIS
Crline-An OmciSia Comment.
The two ticket scalpers convicted in New Jer-
sey last week are the first offenders to suffer
punishment under the act to prevent frauds
upon travellers. Whether they thought Justice
slept or were determined to defy openly the
law Is not apparent. but the bold manner
in which their business was conducted
would incline one TO tho belief that
they felt little apprehension Of being
called to account. Atlantic City in summer
offered a peculiarly fruitful held for the produc-
tive practice OF their illegitimate profession. on
account Of the large number Of low.rate eScur-
sion tickets sold to that point from all sections
OF the country. and the promising har 'est Of
i~ll.gotten dollars was too tempting TO resist. One
OF The so-called brokers" emigrated from Wash
ington, hired a Post Office box, and openly
advertised to buy and sell railroad tickets. and
when he was asked II he did not fear detection.
promptly replied that he was a stranger to fear.
as he could smell d detective a mile off," His
nose proved cold, however. as an officer Of the
secret service Of q railroad company was in
negotiation with him at the time. The other
member OF tho fraternity did d rushing curb
stone business. and the quantity and variety OF
the tickets yielded up from his inside pocket
seemed unlimited.
leIsurcly OF their folly behind the bars OF the
Mays Landing jail. Their sentences IL is true.
were, not harsh. but the majesty, OF the law
fully vindiCateu.
Appointment official Of one OF the railroads in.
terested in the cases said yesterday:
These prosecutions were pressed simply to
prove that the law Tor the protection of travel
lers could and would be enforced in New Jersey
and elsewhere. II bchooved the railroad COM
panies to protect their patrons from imposition
by unauthorized parties. whose stock in trade
consisted OF non.transfrrablc tickets. passes.
and tickets which had expired by limitation, or
had PASSED in some way out OF the hands OF their
h mir Iha Thn .nfhf no n ia
scalper is composed OF such material as this,
and a number OF fraudulent tickets was found
the sale OF which one OF the men was convicted
was n personal ticket. 1t represented a contract
pany. which bad been signed by the purchaser
and ~attested 10y the railroad agent. All condi-
tions had been accepted by the passenger in
ticket was sold. and in order to enjoy tho benefit
Of the return passage II was ne essary for
purchaser before an agent of the selling com.
pany, ana thus secure the proper stamp OF
was asked how this obsta, .e could be overcome
he suggested that the signature could he 'oun.
ter.eito without much ;r9n6'e 4hd the Original
o! a forgery by an innocent purchaser was TO be
a part OF the price of the goods!
adopted by the scalper 70 rid himself OF his
stock. 1t Involved not only an illegal act on the
part Of tho sc.lper, but u criminal one on the
Altered tickets are frequently 5 Id BY the
ecalperS; that Is 10 say, tlcketS on which The
date or destination has been changed. Limited
tickets that have expired and consequently are
invalid. stolen tickets and passes issued by the
railroads for some other consideration thar
money. and non.lransterable, arc sold TO ar
nnsuspecting public at temptingly low rates
These evidences of tho right 10 travel MAJ
be accepted for passage, sometimes, bll
they are often declined and the deluded pur
fraudulent ticket but the proper fare rs well
or accept the alternative of being elected from
the train. The more ignorant class of trav
ellers are the chief sufferers, as they take tho
bait OF low rates more eagerly and are at tn,
same time easier game for the willy scalper
These are the people whom the anti-scalpinE
laws seek TO protect, and it il In theil
interests that the anti.scalpinR prosecutions are
instituted by the railroad companies. In tn,
recent cases in New Jersey there was no spiri
of persecution or revenge manifested by the rep
resentatives OF the railroad companies, but II
each case the Court was requested to impose
liRhl sentence. mainly TO demonstrate TO the IN
fortunate young men that they could not trifi,
with the law with impunity. .
One unwholcs)me feature of the scRlperl
trade rs 10 applies directly to the railroads Is tn,
opportunity held out to dishonest employees Il
dispose of stolen tickets. The s,alper Is a cor
rupter OF tho morals Of those who have tn,
handling OF tickets. and cases are known wher
otherwise upright men have fallen on accoun
OF the / mptation offered by the scalper's office
The existence of the scalper and his trade 1
not necessary from any point OF view. for ever,
anti-scalplng law provides I'll possible means 70
disposinR OF unused tickets or portions OF then
In a legitimate manner