The times., 1897-11-13
MARKED BILLS GIVEN
Koch and Marks Said to Have Prom
ised to Suppress an Attack in
the Grocers' Advocate.
THOUGHT 1T WORTH $4,000
So Mr.. Sperry, of Sperry & Hutch
insOn, Arranged Plan to
Trap the Accused.
MONEY WAS FOUND on THEM
1t Is Said That the Agent Of the
Trade Journal Gave
Receipt
MONEY WAS FOUND on THEM

Charles Koch, the editor OF the Retail
Grocers' Advocate, and AlonkG MarSs, who
says lie is an advertising gent were ar
Rested yesterday charged with trying 10
cAtort money from Spery & Hutchinson, III
No. 500 broadway.
Tie firm controls tie trading stamp
system, which they have Introduced in
more than a hundred cities throughout the
Country This system, which practically
amounts to giving discount to the retail
purchaser at the stores on the eonpany's
lists has been repeatedly attacked in yari-
Gus trade journals.
IA. Sperry says Marks Came to him On
Monday night ana Informed him that the
RetaI GrocerS Advocate was preparing to
publish an article that would lay out his
firm.
Mr. sperry told me that Marks added that
for So, 900 he might be able to suppress the
publication aud arranged meeting with
Koch for tuesday evening in the Cosaopol-
ltan Fotel.
Mr.. Sperry's attorneys Edwards & Rry
an, advised him to keep the appoint
ment, and then lay plan to capture both
men. So Sperry met Koch and they went
TO the office of the advocate. at No. 127
Reade street, for their conference.
Here, Sperry asserts, Koch corrotoreted
ali that Marks said, and 81 600 was finally
agreed upon as the price 10 be paid a
Sperry's office yesterday mourning. Koch,
il is alleged, agreed 10 authorize Marks
TO sign receipt for him for the amount.
Capt. McCIusky was then informed, and
Detective Sergeants Hughes and Rein We're
detailed on the case. Yesterday morning
Hughes was secreted behind a desk in
Sperry's private office, while Rein was sta
toned in front of the Advocate office. Mr.
sperry further preparedf for the occasion by
marking and taking the number of twenty
$l00 bills.
Marks appea red promptly a I 10 O'Clock
and he was usiiered into the private office
where the det ectivt was hidden, and is said
to have gone over the arrangement.
Marks, it is said, asked To have $500 Of
the $4,000 paid him Individually Sperry
says he Insisted that he wanted proof that
Koch got the remainder OF the money, and
that MARKS accordingly wrote out this re-
ceipt:
In consideration CT payment Of 81 500
Fifteen hundred tiollars} it is agreed b.
tween c, Koch and A. Mark that nothing
injurious to Sperry& Hutchinso us business
will ever be printed in the Retail Irtscers'
Advocate. A M&RKS
On the back OF the receipt he is said To
Rave written:
Received 81 500 for c. Koch aud $500
for myself. A. MARKS
When Srerry still demurred Marks agreed
to take Sperry to meet Koch. Tie two
started out and found KocE waiting near
the elevator, Oh the ground floor. From
there the trio went to saloon at Duane
street and Broadway. Here, Sperry says,
he gave Koch tie $1,000 and slipped $500
more into Marks hands when Koch wa not
looking. The three then started up Broad
way together, and at signal from Sperry
the detectives placed Marks and Koch un-
der arrest.-New York Herald Nov. Il.
Opinion CT Worthington and HeaId
on the Legality of the Methods
of the washington Trading Stamp
Compa ny Merchants Need Not
Stop Giving Them to Customers
Worthington & Heald, Washington Loan
and Trust Company Building, 900 T
street northwest, Washington, d c.,
Nov. IL, 1897.
Washington Trading Stamp Company,
Washington, d. C.
Dear Sir: In reply to Your verbal inquiry
Of this morning in relation 10 what action,
if anr should be taken by Your Company
and by the merchants who have con-
tracts with your company, relating to
the giving y u tc their custom ers q. trading
stamps in view of the alleged action of the
Commissioners OF the District of Colum ba in
directing the prosecutions OF merchants who
shall continue TO deliver stamps to their Gus
toners pending The action of the cuUT tuf APP
peals or this District In the test case nov
before it, would say that, in my opint3n
there is no doubt that this trading stamp
business is perfectly legal, and chat lie
court of appeals will 50 decide