Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1867-08-10
MoDUs OPEBANDL.

The great point to be gained by the
roper in is the confidence of his intend
ed victim, and this confidence neces-
sarily assumes previous introduction.
The methods pursued to accomplish
this end are various.
The device is as follows: 4 merchant
from New Orleans visits New York, let
MS imagine. and registers himself rs n
guest at an uptown hotel, under the
name of William Brown. a gentleman
IL. first-cIass rOper-ln chances to stand
by the office desk while the registration
takes place. Shortly afterwards he
steps forward and seemingly carelessly
examines the hotel books. His eye
falls upon one entry-Wm. Brown,
New Orleans, La. The first step Is
gained by the rOper-in. He has ascer-
tanned his mans name and location.
He now proceeds to study the man
himself. ample opportunities for this
branch OF science being afforded by
the freedom of hotel life. Having sat
isfied himself that Mr.. b. is fit sub
iect for his operations, he cOntrives to
meet him in the bar-rOON, and, with
pleasing smile and graceful bow, adj
vancipg with a look of polite inquiry,
SAYS, 'sNr. Brown, I believe? Mr.
Have I not had the pleasure Of meet
ing yOu frequently on Canal street or
at the St. Charles?' Taken at unawaTes,
suspecting nothing, and favorably i'm
pressed with the manner of The strang-
er, Mr. j. acknowledges his identity,
does his best to TecOliect the gentle
man who thus kindly recOllects him,
and from that moment his fate is as
fixed rs one of the stars Step by
step the ropeT-in improves his self-in-
PRODUCTION, till Mr.. Brown, of New
Orleans, is added TO his list of victims
Another device may be recorded.
Many TOpers-in are expert billiard
players, and haunt the tables of some
fashionable establishment. A stranger
visiting the rooms desires q partner in
a game; the bogus biliiaTdlst oilers MS
services; they are accented; an ac-
quaintance results, and ultimately the
rOper-in receives his percentage.
It should be here remarked shat
gaming house Is seldom styled such by
a roper-in, but is designated as 'the
clubs" the subject Of play Is never di-
Iectly obtruded, but dehcately limited
at; and free use is made of the most
distinguished names To destroy all pre-
ludices against gambling.
A cunning member OF the fraternity
cOutrived last year TO accomplish his
introduction" Go the parties on whom
he designed to operate under the best
possible auspices by practising the fol-
lowing scheme: He cultivated assidu-
ously the friendship of several Of the
leading residents at one of our largest
hotels, concealing from them studiOusly
his real character. Through his &C
quaintance with these he would gain a
passport To the favor of others to whom
they would introduce him. These lat
ter he would fleece unhesitatingly, but
SO shreWdly that for some months no
suspicious We're entertained regarding
him, and when his real business was
discovered, his innocent introducers
were OF course more anxious to CON-
promise the matter than was the guilty
one himself.
Very often the merest trifie of an in
eident is ayailed of by the rOpeT-in to
establish a communication with some
unsuspecting stranger. The weather,
a picture, &c., &c, serves rs an excuse
for the first word, from which in re-
ular sequence follow intimacy, treach-
cry, and ruin
Occasionally the roper-in of the
higher grade Of grade there can be
where all is degradation) viii encoun-
ter In his experience a wealthy but or
thodOx stranger, on whose pious mind
his ordinary arts and free and easy in
yitatiOns to visit ''the club" would
avail nothing. In this case a different