The Portsmouth inquirer. [volume] (Portsmouth, O. [Ohio]) 1849-1855, 1853-02-25
Green's Exposition of Gambling at An
s@ er nap0iis. e5
ANNAPoLIs. Feb. 2, '53.

III VI napoiis. sea /.
AsEAPoIIs. Feb. ., '5s. 4
II may be interesting TO your readers 10 have
"a sketch Of one Of Green's lectures before
the Legislature. The public officers Of the
State, &c, 10 this city, Mr.. Green COM
menced by exhibiting about twenty differ
ert packs Of cards in common use, including
lthose having white backs, and pointed out
ihe various marks on the backsof each, by
which the prolessed gamblers could tell them
as readily as BY the face. The manufacture
Of cards, was exclusively in tie hands Of
gamblers and theirSgents. 'S%
/ Mr. Green next remarked that the pub
lie generally had no adequate conception Of
the degree Of skill which was a.tainable by
persons who made gambling their business,
land that if he could only succeedin fully
acquainting the public mind upon this sub
lject, be had noieafs thatany yindividual well
4 informed in sihe matter, would b. SO simple
minded as ever to attempt anencoUnter with
the professed gamblers was the result Of some
amount Of science, strong powers OF memory
acquired by cultivation ein astonishing slight
OF hand obtained by constant practice, all
aided by the marked cards in general use, by
which they were read as easily us if they were
! played with the face upwards.
Tolconyince gentlemen of the utter folly
OF attempting 10 play cards with professed
! gamblers however amusing might be their
private games with each other, he would
show them how completely he could con-
troll the cards of the entire pack. The game
of whist was called for: the cards were shuf-
fled by those around him when be immedi-
ately dealt himself and partner all the i'm
portant csrdsin the pack Ha then explain
ed to the N that, knowing every card in the
pack, he could deal the second, third or even
the fourth card from the top as well as the
first, and this he did again with a rapidity
tina: defed the closest scrutiny 10 detect it,
and witha as much apparent ease as II he was
dealing from the Top Of the pack, hi sfI
"High. low, jack and the game" was next
called for, the cards thoroughly shuffied.---
He Immediately dealt himself the ace, deuce
and ten Of clubs and turned the jack, and
gave his opponent,the king queen and tray,
beneatf score OF watchiul eyes around the
table. none of which could detect the cheat
or accountfor the result, until explained by
Mr.. G. Gt''sT 2
'Euchei,' was next called for, the cards
shuffled, &C., Mr.. g., dealt himself the ace,
king, jack Of clubs, jack Of spades and ten Of
hearts, and turned the queen of clubs fol
trumps, discarding the ten, he insured him
sell all lths tricks. This he done by making
, several changes in the relative position o
the cards, which is done, and could only be
done by thorough bred gamblers.
Bragg was next introduced-'the cards
F, shufled anil cut; a partner selected, to whom
Mr.. G.. said he would give large hand -
} He dealt him two bullets and bragger, ant
| the third man the same hand in size-thu
8 showing that the gambler could, in hi
: knowledge OF carda by marks deal jut sue
cards as he chose 10 deal.
Bluff was next called for. and Mr.. g
: showing conclusively that he could deal tn
{. cards from top, bottom, or middle Of tn,
pack, with so much dex.erity as defied de
lection. q 4
The Faro bank was next called for.
This, Mr.. g. said might be considered tn
national game an was supposed by the pub
licto be the most fair and equal game play
ed with carjs. But his exposition OF tn
many HVueS VI CuedllDS Wy moihC" Soiuo
false shuffiing, bending the cards as the.
were about 10 be placed in the box, stocking
them when gamblers show the cards, "a pc
culiar shuffle,) )--the 'gaff' as played on tn
, finger 10 push out two; (Which cheat, he sait
is played great deal BY Baltimore gamblers
: shippers or cut cards, and the manner il
which cards should be shufaed and put VI
TO lose, all was startling information TO al
present, some of whom candidly confessed
that they had lost their thousands at thi
! game, but declared they would never play i
4, again, and would advocate the passage Of {
law to punish those who had been instru
! mental in robbing them, and TO prohibit tn
continuance Of gambling house.
: A great variety of tricks with cards wa
S next presented, showing the extraordinar
slight of hand and power Of memory tha
| could be attained by those who make gam
bling their study, and exhibiting the ute
: folly OF the attempt TO play cards with gam
: blers, who can rob their victims at theil vii
TO any extent Mr.. Green's audience lei
: the room much wiser than when they entered
sl hatetlt sd aaeG t5u p O.