Herald Staff Writer

Bell-bottomed trousers and skinny neckties were a part of former Ohio Congressman James A. Traficant Jr.'s wardrobe.

Soon a local auction service will give the public a glimpse into the style of the 61-year-old former Mahnoning County sheriff.

Anglin's Auction Facility at the rear of Valley View Antique Mall in Brookfield has about 50 items of Traficant's that will go on the auction block Dec. 1.

Traficant's family has no use or storage space for the items, said auctioneer Jeff Anglin. The items are mainly furniture from Traficant's offices in Washington, D.C., and Boardman, Ohio, and his Green Township farm. They range from wall hangings and coffee mugs to a custom-made desk from Traficant's Boardman office. The desk comes complete with a marble top and is one of the higher quality pieces. It includes a matching side credenza file cabinet with lockable doors.

Another quality item for sale is a Victorian parlor set, featuring a two-seat bench and two side chairs.

Some of the items date to the 1940s. A framed 65th anniversary federal duck stamp print has stamps that date as far back as 1934 and up to 1999.

Also featured are collectable china, brass kettleware, cast iron, an antique sausage stuffer, painted china closets and an original hall seat with a mirror, estimated to be about 100 years old.

Anglin has had the items in his possession for just over a month, but has only recently publicized them.

Traficant, who was a nineterm congressman for Youngstown's 17th District, adored American saddlebred horses, which is evident by the horse-embellished plates and mugs for sale from his collection. They come from the American Saddle Horse Museum in Kentucky.

Anglin couldn't say which item he thought would be the hottest.

"There's no way to be able to say," he said. "We could get someone in need of something wanting to buy an item or someone who wants it because of who it belonged to. That's where the difference is."

Several oak church pews upholstered with designer rugs are available. Traficant turned them into office benches to use for meetings.

Anglin said the pews, which have bookstands, were at Traficant's Mahoning County farm. Also available is framed artwork by locals, including a piece depicting historic sites in Girard, Ohio. Two additional prints ironically depict a woman baring herself before a judge and jury.

"Traficant did a lot of benefits and when he showed up at events, many of these pieces were given to him as gifts," Anglin said.

The auction starts at 1 p.m. with previews at 11 a.m. Another estate will be auctioned the same day, Anglin said.

A driver's license or identification card must be presented to Anglin's wife Brenda, in order to buy.

Traficant is serving an eightyear sentence in a Pennsylvania federal prison following a bribery and corruption conviction in April. Earlier this month, Traficant lost his jailhouse campaign to retake the 17th District congressional seat.

For more information visit www.anglinsauction.com