The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-28

How They Operate Between New Haven and
New YOrk-P0rtraits from Life-Cauti0n TO
the JJuvyary


New York-Portraits from Life-Caution TO
the Unwary.
From the Springfield Evening News Dec. oe.l
:, Drlef description OF some OF the principal gam
piers whose faces have become familiar TO the expe-
renCeu traveller on the railroad from this city to New
York, ana especially from New Haven TO the me-
tropoiis, seems almost demanded. Gamblers ana
are reapng rich harvest on this route,
despite the very persistent efforts OF the railroad
p0ratl0ns 70 GUST them; nothing Will make them
shrink back quickly "a seeing their .portralt5 In
print.
The traveller by the afternoon train, bound, let
say for New York. will notice. II ne enter the smok-
ing car-whch naturally is business mans resort on
q long journey-ShOrtly after the train leaves New
Haven, medium sized iair looking man. about 20
der the chin, and curling round the face. He gener
ally wears silk hat and dark brown broadcioth
clothes. He is neither brilliant nor stupid looking
individual: his eyes alone are quite keen. He might
be taken for country schOolmaster or village law
yer not for the searching Chances OF suspicion
he gives before he proceeds to business lie is the
stool Pigeon" or gambler number one Oh the party
This man steps quickly through the car, generally
ut New Haven, stops a few moments at the door,
quietly and modesty surveys the passengers. lie
then selects vacant seat, II possible IN the immedi-
ate vicinity OF several gentlemen who are talking
together, ana generally mngles In the conversation.
Ere long the car door opens again, and an entirely
different specimen appears. This IL gambler NUM-
Der two, who has something or the "Bowery'' air
about him. He has red full face, frnged about
with short, red hair wears round top SLOUGH hat,
is dressed with general air OF careessness, IS be-
tween twenty-five and thirty years old, under me-
dun SIZE, probably weighs l4o lie usually selects
seat AT some little distance from his colrade and
interests himself with the country boys ana conf
dent young men.
Gambler number three Is not long now = making
his appearance. As he swings open the car door
with nervous energy he would almost be taken for
banking or insurance clerk or some down town
bookkeeper who lives fast. He wears TINS season q
wide band soft nat, short cutaway coat light pants,
bit OF Jewelry; Is about thirty years Old weighs
perhaps $50, short In stature, fair lace, with no es-
pecial distinguishing characteristic. He takes In the
situation, whatever It may be, at glance and gets
seat If possible, IN the front end OF the car facing
the passengers He looks about few moments.
then passes through in an nquirng way. Finally he
arrives near stO0l pgeOn and caieessly asks him Is
plies that lie does not care play, but turning to
the victim he has selected 'perhaps this gentleman
may and generally or two VIII be cOaXed into
trying hand. so gamblers two and three take
down q euchre table, and stool pIgeon' oafs neg-
gently behind. Thus the party Is made up OF two
professional gamblers and two green men. The play
CONES interested. As they are sitting and
he Is standing he can see every mans
shand.n Presently the euchre game is ended
splendid blur hand' then number three bursts out
WITH 80 have and will bet five dollars that one
or the other takes the money ~ 'St0ol pgeonn now
becomes interested In OF the green men and says
privately, "Pshaw you've got a. hand you can 20
lem hundred on, II you Will ~ Green man
bets, and Is, OF course, 'cleaned out.n The party
BREAKS up soon after and "stoO pigeon" goes on to
the next car.
1t must be remembered that this trio Of gamblers
and others Of their lk do not conine their opera
placed and where a man Is rather more on his
guard but III the regular passenger cars. where the
conductor Is continually passing and repaSslng. You
may see them almost any day-the red haired; req
three and the modest ''stoo pigeon" Beware Of