New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-02-12
THE NETWORK GAMBLERS.

To The Editor Of The " \. tribune.
SIR: Gambling is an admitted vice, but those who
make the admission not entirely aware of its force
and extent, nor do they general thing experience
its terrible consequences Like its concomitant evil,
drinking, it has small beginning; its total deormity
is not seen by the moral eye at first, and its develop
ments are gradual and unobtrusve, that the victim
knows not the full state of his degradation until the
fnger-pOnt of scorn, the upturned lip aud the avered
head consign him TO the level Of extreme degradation.
Is it TO be supposed, therefore, that the gambler de-
prive of all feeling, cut of from all reputable socia
ton with the world should be affected by any appeal
to his moral sensedeadened and CHARGED out by
ruption Of them 1t may be said, as Camille boasts,
"Voils un front qui ne rougait Jamai';"
but there is method of whipping these blOodhouDds
off the scent of human blood and that method you
are now pursuing The public owes you debt OF
thanks but what language can express the deep, the
heartfelt gratitude of mothers. wives and sister, tor
closing the portals to these "hels " where, when
brothers husbands and sons enter like Dante Inferno,
1" all hope is left behind; and where may truly be
said all honor, independence and manness Is eh.
now furnish you additional list OF houses and their
characteristics.
No lO-No 204 Fulton street. merely give the
number Of this establishment, and purpOsey suppress
the name hope that the proprietor IS the father
of large and interesting family, he may yet redeem
them from disgrace and restore them to position in
society.
No. ll-Keran No. GO Broadway, opposite the
1afarge. This house originally opened with great
magnicence by Skeggs well known to the western part
of Tennessee as the principal OF bank whose issues
he lately repudiated and fled from Tennessee Skeggs
IL one OF the most successful gamblers after Petbone
who has retired to his beautiful country residence
near Rockland Lake. in the United States. kerln
was born gentleman, but didn't remain so long.
Virginia is his birthplace; his association with
gamblers soon drew him down to their level. lie
employs to do his dirty work (skinning) one jeff.
Wells.
nd mil lin No
"A Prince street. This is very interesting quartet
The firs-named has many of the elements OF gentle
man about him. Intelligent and affable, he Is not
mere imitation but genuine production. lhis man
was formerly in the employment OF George Law at
San Juan del Sur but in evil hour fell into the dis
graceful practice he now follows. The third OF ths
batch was and is what is termed a " horse sharp.
Those who have witnessed his dealing, and the slick
way he puts up splits, tnlDk ne Is equally sharp al
this latter business.
No. I3-Housewright, No. SOL Broadway. I recur
TO this house, it being, i'll my estimation the most
dangerous Of all Does Mr.. Housewrght recollect a
delicate tall and pale young man who was decoyed
into his saloon from the st. Nicholas last Summer Y
He was from Athens, Georgia. He lost, at different
times the sum of 81 OOO, and after exhaustDg all his
resources applied to HOusewright for paltry loan,
and was furnished with ticket TO go home. Well,
Housewright, you did your work effectively. That
money was his mothers ALL his father died year
ago. and this remnant Entrusted TO the boy by his
poor old widowed mother. That boy Is now IN the
unatc asylum, and his mother is gradually dy-
higher heart, intellect memory all shattered and
broken. Are you satisfied This is the worst OF oil
the sk,nning games on Broadway. The manners and
exterior of this man are well calculated to impose on
the unsuspecting.
propose to give you in my next complete list OF
what are termed the sknping" houses-that is,
places where the game so played through the agency
Of the cards and case.keeper that no man can win
bet unless permitted by the dealer. The numerous
victims to this swndle may then have an opportunity
of confronting the men who have thus robbed them
and compelling them to disgorge. 1t will also put
their guard, and will go further to suppress
gambling by beginners than any other disclosure. l
shall suppress no names, neither shall give single
mans name who is not well known to the fraternity
to be engaged in the business The SQUARE gambler
abhors the skinner" and there grades in gam
bling there grades in prostitution.
Yours respectfully WIN. q IN A CORNER