Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1902-04-17
TICKET SCALPER
PLEADED GUILTY

The first case of IA man being arralgh-
ed in the criminal courts OF tins coun-
ty for ticket scalping was called be-
fore Judge Edwards this morning Inc
defendant was Adolph Blau, who Is
tbe manager of the Commercial Loan
company, doing business at NO. 30
I,ackawanna avenue The complainant
was NJ. L. Smith, the district passeng-
or agent of the Lackawanna railroad.
Blau pleaded guilty upon the advice
of his counsel and was let OFF with an
extremely tenient sentence. 1t was so
and cost
Cases in this state for ticket scalp
ing have been rare, although there mas
been a law against 1t on the statute
hooks Of PENNSYLVANIA since the year
1863. 1t was only recently that the
sppreme court of Pennsylvania decided
that that law is good one and that 1t
is a crime to scalp tickets i'll PennSyl-
vania.
The D. L. & ". company sometime
ago had reason to complain OF ticket
scalping in this city and started out
70 find where the trouble came from
They soon found that the tickets were
being scalped by Blau. Mr.. Smith re-
monstrated with him and told HIM not
TO sell the tickets of the Lackawanna
and also called his attention to the law
of this state regarding it.
Blau did stop for a time and theh
when the New York state court decld-
ed against the railroad companies IN
the famous case at Buffalo he thought
that it gave him license to sell and
started up the scalping business again
Mr.. Smith told him again and also
called his attention to the fact that
the law in New York state was not the
same as the law in Pennsylvania, ana
that the law in this state was straight
out and out against the practice. Blau
wouldn't believe it, and kept on sell
ing until he was arrested.
There is a big difference between the
case that was in New York state courts
and the one in the county court here
this morning The suit was brought
there by the companies against the
scalpers to restrain them from sell
ing. The suit there was IN equity,
not in the criminal court. The pecu-
liar part of the suit there was that 1t
was decided against the company on
the ground that they did not come into
court with clean hands and when a
man comes into the equity court tol
redress of grievances he must come
there without spot or blemlsh. thus
it appears that while the New York
courts decided against the companies
they did not decide that ticket scalp
ing in New York was legal.
In passing sentence on Blau TINS
morning Judge Kelly told him that
it was on account of all the facts IL
the case that he was so lenient. That
he felt that Blau had made mistake
in his understanding of the New YORK
law and did not understand the din
erenCe between that and the law IL
this state. Judge Kelly stated that
the law in Pennsylvania is clear and
distinct, and that it positively makes
ticket scalping crime. 1t Is ser
ious crime, too The penalty Is tnt
and Imprisonment i'll the penltentlary
The court impressed the fact upon
Blau that while he was lenient this
time it was not to be understood that
ne would be so lenient with him OF
anyone else if they should be brought
before him again on the same crime.
While the D. l.. & W. company agreed
to have judicial clemency extend
ed to Blau, Mr.. Smith stated that II
was an example to any one else that
would be found scalping their tickets.
They will prosecute to the full extent
of the law in cases that may arise
hereafter
Major Warren appeared for the com,
pany, and Messrs. Joseph O'Brien,
Geo. S. Horn, Frank Donnelly and
John f. Murphy for Blau.-Scranton
Truth, April l2th.