Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-05-12
SwinhInd.

OOUpldluJS nave Deen very bVquS"T ~
some time past, of swindling operations at
saloons in the vicinity of the depot in this
city. But seldom have those complaining
OF having been swindled and defrauded, at
tempted to make good their charges before
the proper tribunal, and have the accused
punished according to the law in such
cases made and provided. Generally, after
making much ado, the complainants, after
having had certain parties arrested, and
sometimes without arrests, have abandoned
all prosecution, on getting back the money
they claimed to have been swindled out OF,
or some portion of it.
A case of the above stamp, similar, we
might say, to hundreds that have preceded
it, has just come to our knowledge. we
refrain from the Identification of parties
by giving names, &C., until the case shall
come, if it ever does, before legal tribu-
nal.
A person, who claims to have been a
member of the 56th o. V. l., and whom
therefore we will designate as soldier
states that he arrived night or two since,
at the depot in this city and was met by a
sharper and swindled out of all the money
he had, 500, substantially in the following
manner: ..u..
Sharper No. came across him as If by
accident in the depot, and after some friend
ly conversation, maniiesting no little inter-
est in his welfare, asked him to step into a
saloon near at hand and take a glass Of ale.
Soldier at first declined, but finally con-
scented, and the twain entered the saloon.
After having partaken of the ale, Sharper
No. proposed to soldier to throw dice for
cigars. This the soldier declined doing, as
he was unused to gambling.
At this juucture, in comes sharper No. 3
and he and No. throw for the cigars, and
No. wins every time. No. 2 then pro-
poses to put up money and bet on the dice
with soldier. The latter declines, saying he
has no money to gamble away. No. 2 who
has been passing himself off as Southern
man, then goes out, leaving No. and SOL
der together, ..t..
No. now tells soldier that No. 2 Is
greenhOrn and don't know how to play, and
tina: he mo. y can win all his money from
him. He asks the soldier to lend him some
money. The soldier declines, saying he
has but .$l00, and wants to save that. The
other says: "Just lend it to me. There is
no possible danger of my losing it. l will
add $50 to it of my own, and put it all up,
and divide my winnings with you" But
soldier still perseveres in his refusal to lend
the money.
Here No. re-enters the saloon, and offers
to bet any amount on the dice. No. again
appeals to soldier to lend him money, so
he can put that boasting fellow to silence.
But soldier is not yet willing. After q little
more parleying, No. boasting that he is a
Southern gentleman, swears that he can
beat either of them, or any other id Yam
kee. This rouses as was intended, the ire
of soldier, who gives No. l his 500.
No. then offers to bet with No.. 2. The
money is put up, and Sharper No. 3, who
is ready at hand as a disinterested third
party, holds the stakes. The dice are
thrown, and No. 2, without giving soldier
time to look at the dice, declares he has
won, snatches the money from the stake
holder, who is "nothing 10th" to part with
il, makes off out of the saloon, followed by
No. l. Soldier laments his loss, is indig-
nant, says he has been swindled, and is
coolly informed that his two late compan-
ions left on the first railroad train for some
place, his informant don't know what
place.
Such is In substance the soldiers tale as
related to us by city official. He informs
us that the keeper of the saloon, where the
occurrence is alleged to have taken place,
says he wants to have the question settled
by a judicial tribunal, how far, or whether
at all, the keeper of saloon, or Others par
in an operation like that above
described, are liable under the criminal
laws of the State. We concur in the hope
that the case may have a thorough judicial