The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1857-12-10
For the ottumwa Couri,
Sketches of Gamblers.
BY J.. III. GREEN.
NO. Nv.
u DnrI, Pn.u. M..I.. --L--
Park Row Murder.

..,r- ......
About the first appearance of the cholera in
New York city. the gambling ard carousing
hels in Park Row were in full bloom. From
the corners Of Ann street and Park Row, TO the
corner of Breckman street. were one contnu-
ance OF these dens, with the exceptions of
small space occupied by the Park theatre
Nor were these houses confined to the iniquity
human cess-pools for the fowings of every
| species of dark and daming crimes. To ma
ny, even these facts might seem TO be a flight
of the Imagination; but if there are such, refer
them to all the present police of old standing
ro to the dissipated and superannuated alder
men, and some few of the ex-police justices
these person having been intimate associates
| of those base-hearted outlaw. Some of .hem
| even went so far as to keep roulettes and other
gambling implements, as well as gambling
houses; while they were serving in the capaci-
ty of city Officials; and after having. in politi-
cal sense, duped the voters to support and ele-
vate them to these high and profitable Offices.
repaid them for their kindness, by robbine
them of their sons and their wealth, as well as
their peace and happiness on this earth.
These harpies were sufficiently verset IN all
that was necessary to make il advantageous TO
them, and were always shrewd enough. after
having made large amount. to take up their
quarters in some other more civil and quiet
part Of the city, where thsy-with all their
rottenness of heart and corruption of mind
hid themselves. content with the bonored nt,e
of ex-ius,ice. or ex- x-alderman. or some other
equally worth city ex-oficial title. In one of
these 6rst-class slaughter.houses came off a
thrilling tracy. which ended both in the mur-
der and robbery of the VICTIM. But nublic os
IL was. and strange as il NAV seem tbe nor-
petrators were never called TO account for that
Jark and cruel deed
Young officer of the navy who w,s;, had
health. having a furlough, came TO New York
CITY 10 visit his friends. The cholera bs;,g ,ro
valent. those he had expected ,o meet left tbo
CITY. Places of amusement in genera, were
closed II was in the m;aa,e of simmer Rrt
neither the maIadv nor The fear which had ne
asioned thousands Of the better por,ion of ths
citizens 70 aee. had anv effect u,on tha ga,b
le,s of PARK Row To these honsas then a..
I at ,b, present. we-e ,ed tbe vop,b Of ,sa,b -.
lambs 10 tbs, bramb,es.
Young Love under his denressed heal,b
was an easy yictim-bis disease baing "a. aa.
tering one. consumption. Far ssveral n;ob.S
he visited the park Roy gambters eat ,ho;r
suppers, smok ed th-;,e;o.rs dranL ,hair ,,;no
laid down his money. lost #. and r,,;ra, !
succession Of these visits soon made the place.
and those who visited it. familiar to him. A
slight description of the latter viii here give
The proprietor or keeper was a robust. ropgh
species Of humanity. Atone time in his lifa be
filed the profession of horse farr;ar and t,,s
| hy his profession while in that canacitv hal
been dubbed "doctor.Y His associate was one
| of the rougher class Of sheen killers or butch
ers, and with all a great pupilist or bpllv
Their "strikersu or iourneymen were comnosea
of all classes. from the polished gambler down
| to the superannuated. discarded nicr-nocLo,
All these different grades were nigbtlv il A..
tendance at this fashionable PARK Row den 90
iniauity. These trained and tenacious bopnds
| of perdition could not be summed afte, once
entering the crib NJ death any more Than man
could handle tar without beinp det,ed Thar
manner of operation was altogether gove,ned
by circumstances, and by the kind of game thew
| were in pursuit Of. or expected TO ensnare =
These worId-be gamblers were free traders.
| and were at that time considered as mart OF
the machinery Of the Park Row villain mann.
factory.
| On. class of particular kind would be Sc
Iected to stand and take what the gamblers call
''sleepers,o which are nothing more nor less
than bet laid down upon certain card, and
| if the gambler does not win it, or has to paw
it, and the person owing the same forget that