New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-06-04
REVENUE MEN SEIZE
COUNTERFEIT CIGARS
Raid Restaurants Charged with
Selling Cheap Smokes in Boxes
of Costly Brands.
PROSECUTIONS TO FOLLOW
Government Loses in Taxes, Say
officials, While Manufacturers
Profess Loss of 100000
IN Business Yearly.

IN Business Yearly,
oNicers Of the internal revenue secret
.e,,,,ce made q series Of raids in the
course Of last week on nearly dozen
well known restaurants and cigar stores
in Manhattan and Brooklyn, and seizeo
large quantities Of cigars said 10 ne
counterfeit makes Of the registered
brands of Romeo Juleta. Hoyo de
Monterey, La Carolina and Belinda
cigars.
The seizures were made after lone
Investigation and on evidence gathered
principally on behalf of the manu-
facturers Of these brands by the Trade
Mark Protective Company, Of No. 1al
Broadway. How extensive the practice
of substituting cheap cigars attired in
counterfeit band of the real make has
grown was shown by the statement made
YESTERDAY by J. NJ. Boteler. president of
the Trade Mark Company, who SAID the
total Of Romeo y Julieta Perfectos now
offered for sale throughout the United
states exceeded the total output of the
whole existence. The loss sustained by
the manufacturers Of the four cigar
brands mentioned, Mr.. Boteler said, was
estimated at from 100000 to 100000 a
year, besides the great loss in reputs
ton caused through the substitution IN
the trade Of cigars considerably inferior
70 the makes protected by these marks.
The raids created a sensation IN the
trade No doubt was left by the agents
cr the internal revenue service that
their present efforts were only the be
ginning OF the first and largest campaign
Of that kind ever seen in New York
Great IS the loss Of the manufacturers
vas admitted 10 be. the United states
government has also a claim TO recover
az least part Of the revenue that has
been lost through these fraudulent prac-
tees
Direct Loss Of Revenue
The most direct loss of revenue arises
through the fact that the spurious cigars
are sold in boxes which originally con-
tanned the genuine brands, and. having
passed through the customs upon i'm
portation, had paid the revenue tax and
we're sealed with the revenue stamp.
This stamp costs 80 cents for each box
of ons hundred cigars and it Us estt-
mated that the government has lost
thousands Of dollars through the re-
filling Of stamped boxes with cigars that
never passed through the internal reve-
nue. oftce.
civil and criminal proceedings will bo
brought by the authorities to recover thc
loss sustained by the government and 'c
prevent the continuation Of the neVi J
discovered abuse Entirely independeu'
rom those official proceedings the manu-.
lecturers Of the brands involved VIII
orins suits for damages running into
thousands Of dollars in the state courts
as well as IN the United states Circuit
Court Most OF the smaller cases will
be brought before the Municipal Court
under section Of the state laws. which
may enable the compliments 10 recover
damages, with the provision Of Jail pen
slties in cases in which judgment OBJ
tanned are not satisfied
In the string of raids made the follow
ing restaurants and cigar stores suffered
seizures Of spurious stock:
Archamoault Restaurant, 1o2d street
and Broadway, where considerable guam
titles Of alleged inferior cigars were
found in boxes Of Romeos and other
brands.
The Hotel Albany At Broadway and
IT, .lo i
by revenue inspectors. A large assort-
ment Of Romeos, Hoyos and Carolinas
was confscated.
The Monolith Cafe, in West 25th street,
gave up considerable quantities OF al
legged fake Romeo Perfectos and Invin-
bles. as well as Carolinas and Beindas.
Desvernino & Co. at No. 4S Beaver
street, were we'll supplied with alleged
counterfeits Romeos Hoyos and Caro-
Hnas, and Frat & Graf, restaurant keep
ers, at No. $50 Third avenue, are al
Iesed 10 have been stocked with fake
Hoyos.
The STAG Cafe. at No. u East 9th
street. was also visited and large as
sortment of alleged fake Carolinas.
hOrneOS ana bellnOdS cOnll5cdte0.
One Of the richest hauls made was
that at Goldschlager Brothers, at No. 10
Cortlandt street, where alleged counter
feits Of all the brands mentioned were
seized.
Hickey. Kaplan &, Wltzek. OF No. 165
Fifth avenue. Brooklyn, who were raided
last Friday. were alleged to have had in
stock large quantities of fake Romeos,
Belindas and Carolinas. which were
promptly seized.
Harry Sobel, Of No. 2052 Eighth ave-
nue., Manhattan, and Sontag Brothers,
OF No. 429 Fulton street. Brooklyn. com
pleted the chain Of places where alleged
spurious cigars were confisca ted.
Sales Of Genuine Brands Reduced.
Tho first suspicion CLEANED of the
spreading practice came through the
falling off in purchases of the four
brands by places which previously had
been heavy buyers OF the real articles.
Complaints from smokers helped to
strengthen the suspicion.
Upon investigation II was found that
practically the same method was adopted
nv all the dealers enmeshed. and that