Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-12-06
Sale of junk.

Guitor Nlfsinlan-Pilot: q.
Junk dealers, as a rule, will buy from
whoever offers articles. such as grate-
baskets, lead-pipe, gas-pipe, etc, with
out hesitation or effort to ascertain
where the goods We're gotten, or the
iiame ana address of the seller.
~ is impossible for the police to de-
tect all the thieving going on. and for
inns reason the General Assembly Of
me State of Virginia deemed it essen
tiai TO pass the following law, entitled
An Act to require junk dealers to keep
certain books and exhibit the same; to
make report of certain articles received
or purchased by them, and prescribing
penalties for falling to do So" The said
law reads as follows:
l. Be 1T enacted by the General AS
sembly of Virginia, That every junk
dealer shall keep at his place Of bust
ness book or--books. in which shall
be fairly written in English an accu-
rate description of each article pur-
chased or received by him Except rags,
bones, old scrap iron. other than gas
pipe, and paper), with the price paid
therefor, together with the name. resi-
dence, occupation and the correct de-
scription of the person from whom he
received the same. The said book shall
at all times be open to the inspection Of
any sheriff. sergeant, constable or po.
lice officer of the county or corpora
ton in which such junk-dealer shall do
bushels.
Every junk-dealer doing business in
any city or town shall. EVERY DAY
(except Sunday BEFORE II O'CLOCK
IN THE FORENOON, DELIVER TO
THE CHIEF OF POLICE OF. SUCH
CITY OR TOWN, ON A BLANK
FORM TO BE PRESCRIBED BY
SUCH CHIEF OF POLICE, a LEGI-
RLE AND CORRECT TRANSCRIPT
IFI9 ON HIS T2nOJE DnnI-C
TRANSACTIONS OF THE PREVIOUS
DAY. NO JUNK-DEALER SHALL
SELL, MELT, CHANGE THE FORM
OF OR DISPOSE OF ANY ARTICLE
BQUGHT OR RECEIVED BY HIM
WHICH, HE rs REQUIRED BY THIS
ACT TO MAKE RECORD OF AND
REPORT WITHIN FIVE DAYS AFT
Err SUCH REPORT.
Any junk-dealer who fails to keep
such books or who SHALL on demand,
fail or refuse to exhibit the same to
any sheriff, sergeant. constable or po-
lice officer, or who shall fail or refuse
to make correct report as required by
this section, or who shall in any other
respect violate the provisions of this
act, shall be deemed guilty of misde,
meanor. and for each offence shall, on
conviction thereof. bea punished with a
fine not less than ten nor more than
one hundred dollars. 80
q - any JuHk-uealer. snail nave In his
possession any article which Is proved
to have been stolen. except rags, bone,
old scrap iron, other than gas-pipe and
paper, the receipt of purchase of which
he has not recorded in the book which
he is required to keep. or which he has
not reported, as prescribed by the pre-
ceding section, he shall be deemed
guilty of the larceny thereof.
8. This act shall be in force from its
passage.
(See Acts Of Assembly 1897 and 1898,
page SCI. chapter 1922.
We have reasons to believe that junk
dealers do not make the required re-
port, each day, and that they do not
keep a record. description, name or adj
dress Of person from whom they buy.
And what Is the result? The culprit
knowing that no question will be asked
by the junk dealer, does not hesitate to
plumber vacant house of lead-p pipe,
spigots, CRATE baskets and the like
when he knows there Is n ready pur-
chaser to be found
We respectfully call all junk dealers
attention to the above law and the PEN
atty attached. We also respectfully
call the authorities attention to the
same. especially as to the daily report
required to be made to Chief of Police,
by each junk dealer in the city.
w. II. TT. tTRICE
'tl~ J.N-