Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-06
AUCTION FAKERS
GET BLACK EYE
POLICE BOARD TURNS DOWN
TWO LICENSES
Japanese Dealer Is Warned TO chanre
His Methods--Commlsslon VIII
Put stop to snIde Jewelry
Sales

The police commissioners yesterday
gave a severe jolt to the fake auction
GERS who have been fleeing visitors to
Los Angeles and competing with mer-
chants here who do legitimate busi-
ness.
Two licenses, applied for by Auc-
tioneers Marin and wildly, were denied
and in the third case japanese
dealer was warned that he would
have to change his methods II he
wanted to get permission to do any
more business. His application was
laid over for a week.
For some time the police have COM
planned of the takers methods of SELL
ing snide goods by means of cappers
and boosters who hang around the
stores, and because buyers usually
have no witnesses. prosecution is diff
cult. Some auctioneers have become
so bold that they threaten the police
for interfering with their business.
The three reports from Chief Ed
Kern, which influenced the board in
the three cases, were as follows:
How Marin Operates
With reference to the application of
Morris Marin for auctioneer's license
permit at 532 South Main street, Chief
Kern reports as follows:
auction house in this same locality for
the greater part of last year. He sold
cheap imitation jewelry and pretended
precious stones, with the assistance of
various cappers, boosters and hangers
on.
"Many persons complained to this de-
partment and to the newspapers that
they had parted with sums sufficient to
secure watches and jewelry of sub
CT n thpV
had left the place that they had re-
ceived practically worthless trash.
"Of1cers of this department have
time and again been called upon by
these complainants, and in especially
fragrant cases have secured restitution
from this man. On account of the fact
that the victim was usually alone at
the time, while the man Marin had
several confederates constantly about
the place while the sales were made,
q prosecution criminally was a difficult
matter
1.-The present ordinance requiring the
issuance of permits from the board be-
fore granting of license to auctioneers
was passed as a result of complaints
made by persons who had dealt with
this man and others similarly engaged
There is no reason to suppose that this
mans character has changed since the
passage Of the ordinance, or that his
business would be conducted in any
better manner. 1 will not recommend
that a permit be granted him"
Wiby Tries Tricks
With reference to the application of
Harry j. Wilby for permit for auc-
tioneer's license at 1923 East Fifth
street the police report:
This man conducted a place on
Fifth street at No. $50 for some time
in a manner similar to the place of
Morris Marin, who has a similar ap
plication before the commission at this
meeting. What is said with reference
to Marin apples with equal force to
Wilby. Wilby had some four or five
boosters in his former place.
Officers have likewise been sent to
this place to compel the repayment of
money spent in the place to persons
who complained that they had been
dishonesty dealt with.
Prior to the passage of the ordn-
ance he and the people connected with
him have talked rather large and
threatened to get even with the cop