Green’s Dictionary of Slang

mock-auction swindlers.

1848		Newcastle Jrnl 1 July 4/1: The Times is now lending its valuable aid to the exposure of the ‘Count Touzery gang,’ who have, for the last three years, itinerated with goods, pretending to be custom-house seizures and the like.
1851		Glasgow Herald 15 Dec. 6/5: [headline] Exposure and punishment of the ‘Touzery Gang’.
1854		Belfast News Letter 12 Apr. 4/5: ‘Touzery Gangs’ [...] have made their appearance in Glasgow, and pretend to give wonderful bargains.
1863		Blackburn Standard (Lancs.) 10 June 2/5: Mr Gladstone has, in the language of [...] the gentlemen who were connected with what used to be called Touzery Gangs, told us of the alarming sacrifices which the proprietors are submitting to.
1873		Sl. Dict. 328: Towzery gang swindlers who hire sale-rooms, usually in the suburbs, for mock auction sales of cheap and worthless goods, and who advertise their ventures as ‘Alarming Sacrifices,’ ‘Important Sales of Bankrupts’ Stock,’ &c.
1890–1904		Farmer & Henley Sl. and Its Analogues.
1895		Crowe Aus. Sl. Dict. 88: Towzery Gang, swindlers who advertise about cheap auction sales,‘alarming sacrifices,’ bankrupts stock, etc.