The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-04-27

Complaining that their trade has
been jeopardized and in some cases
almost ruined by a system of body
grabbing in operation on Main Street,
between Fifteenth and Seventeenth,
and also on Seventeenth Street, sew
petitioned the police authorities and
have written to The Times Dispatch
to help break up the practice.
Most of the stores in this district
1re clothing or shoe houses. or a COM
1ination of both. and competition is
SO keen that no merchant dares lot
possible customer pass by his door
without inviting or dragging him in.
Smiling blandly and with an attitude
of mock Difference, the body grabbert-
for that is what he is called-stands
just outside the door of his shop or
parades up and down, crying his wares
to every countryman or gullble per-
son who comes along, and if that be
not sufficient to induce him to buy,
promptly pulls him in. and in hoarse.
stentorian tones, almost commands
him to purchase before he leaves
Handsome suits at s4.9S, so much
better than can be got anywhere else
In Richmond. or in the world for that
matter. are exhibited with great show
of pride, and before the unwilling Gus
toner Is aware of what's being done
he has his coat off and the merchant is
fitting on .Llie s4.9S. Voluble explana-
ton as. Ito .swiy he can sell such
handsome suit at such a ridiculous
price is given by the merchant; he
throws up his hands in shocked right
eousness at the mere suggestion OF
profit. and declares that the suit fits
like de paper on de vail" Hastily
is the suit wrapped up. money changes
hands, and II he can be induced to buy
no more the purchaser is bundled out,
to fall victim to the next grabber, who
has become wildly jealous in the mean
while. Thus the victim is knocked
bout, pulled In and out. despoiled of
his savings and sent home with all
sorts Of impossible purchases. AT home
the wares are displayed to the loving
wife and eXpectant children. and hope
full looks change to dark dismay as
the S4.9S's are rolled out on the floor.
Saturday the Great Day.
Saturday is the great day for the
photographers, and sometimes they
reap a rich harvest from those who
come to make their weekly purchases.
! OF late the practice has become so
much worse that several merchants de-
c!ded to see if they could not have it
stopped. Some of them declare that
I their trade has been practically ruined
particularly those midway of the
+ blocks. These saw customers so infre-
quently because merchants on the two
ends Of the block had pulled every
body in and made them buy, willy
nilly, before they could go farther.
The unfortunate ones complain bit
terly, saying that they would either
have to retire from business or take
come stringent measure to protect
themselves. Hence the petition to the
police and the appeal 10 this paper.
Most OF them admit, however, that
they have resorted to body grabbing
themselves, declaring that they were
forced to it in order to protect them
selves se!fpreservation being the first
law of nature.
They would be only too willing 10
stop, however. If their neighbors may
be induced to do the same.
Since the petition TO the Police De-
partment the merchants on Main Street
have been visited by the officers and
ordered to do business only in the
Legitimate way. But on Seventeenth
Street The practice still continues an,!
any one who happened to stand on the
corner Of Seventeenth and Main Streets
On Saturday afternoon noticed we'll
dressed young man loafng just withou,
a clothing store, grabbing at every
body who came within his reach. He
= seemed TO be on good terms with all,
He slapped them on the back or
ichucked them under the chin; spoke &c
them pleasantly and asked them to sc
an TO buy. He bowed and scraped ant
y talked as II he were performing the
lmost pleasant duty in the world.
" Body-snatching Is punishable by c
small hne, being prohibited by a city
ordinance. The merchants now wan
1 a heavier fine. such as is imposed In
1 Norfolk. where the sum is $50 for tht
I firat offense and heavier for every
1 offense thereafter.