The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-11-23
4 - II 800 "A.
Tho New York Lottery Policy Game-A
EaelstEom Of Gambling-Eow tho
Poor Are Robbed and Where Their
Money Goes TO-Fhe Secrets
Of the Snare-The Policy
Dealers in Court.

notwithstanding that the laws Of the State pre-
hioit lotteries, ana gambling generally regarded
~ secret practice, there are few cities where more
lottery operations are carried than In New York.
II Is unnecessary to refer to the various swlnding
schemes which, by means OF extraordinary adver-
tisements rob the uninlliated, the police reports
have made the public Of this city perfectly familiar
with the character aud extent OF those frauds 1t is
also well known that the ordinary methods OF
gambling are carried on TO an alarming
degree among ali classes not accepting the FASH
t0nabes whose laces aud satlns seen every sun
DAY In aristocratlc uptown churches; but few are
aware or the gigantic proportions OF lottery opera
ions In New York. The pubic sometimes hears Of
Havana lotteries and has an impression that these
have secret agents In New York. who, to dispose OF
tickets. must observe nearly the precautions as
the operators In ordinary swndling concerns and
there Is also vague idea respecting the existence Of
lotteries In Kentucky, Missouri and other Southwest
ern States which 1t Is supposed manage to sell
lew tickets IN this city. SO tar from there being
any secrecy In the matter, or any restraints upon
the lottery business in New York. the offices for the
transaction OF this nefarious business are as name-
rous anu as public as pawnshops. They not
seen on Broadway nor among the palatal ediGces OF
the fashionable quarters, and for this reason are
overlooked by the better portion OF the community;
bnt in the BOwery, the crowded thoroughfares
tributary to Wall street, the neghporhoods OF Jersey
City ferry, Five Points, the markets. and Ia those
districts densely populated by the poor, lottery
policy offices raunt their signs boldly, and
increasingly draw IN the earnings OF the
masses Twice a day the tide Of duped humanity
ebbs and iows IN these eddes, which rarely yields
mp anything from the vast amount OF money sucked
In. In each OF these offices there is drawing at
noon and at night, ana while now and then some
person draws patry prize, the risks OF thousands
are steadily flowing into the Golfers OF the central
managers which, like maestrom, day after day,
and month after month swallows the earnings OF
clerks Of laborers Of shop girls and the pttances OF
the beggar. These oflces are not independents es.
ADJUSTMENTS but are agencies OF elaborate systems
having their principal machinery outside OF New
York, and known as the Kentucky, Missouri and the
Mississippi State lotteries
NEW YORK HEADQUARTERS.
These lotteries have central agencies in this CITY,
from which the small offices radiate not only through
New York, but In all the adjacent cities. At No. 294
Bowery, the firm of Murray Co.. which, 1t Is said,
includes Mr. Benjamin Wood, represents the Ken
lucky and Missouri lotteries; and at No. 272 Bowery
the frm OF Mcintyre b Co.. represents the Missls-
sippi lottery Zach OF these establishments has from
forty to Atty Oaces scattered through the city, ct
which tickets sold IN all the respective lotteries.
the central oilces are in the upper rooms OF the
buildings. About forty clerks are employed IN
observation OF the visitor, wno only sees q counter
with one or two clerks and the usual paraphernaia
OF the ordinary lottery office. Every precauton is
taken to prevent the detection OF the managers. The
clerks receive their salaries In envelopes addressed
TO them, and any attempt at investigation results
something ike the foliowing:-
@ What position do you occupy heref A. 1 am
clerk.
ana keeping the accounts with agents
=. Who employs your A: don't know.
T. who pays your A. don't know.
q How do you get your payr A. ! nnd 1t on my
desk ID an enveiop
O. Who puts IT theref A. don't know.
q. Who has charge over you? A. clerk.
Q. How is he paid2 A. Just as we are.
concsrns A. l don't suppose anything ABOUT it;
come here every morning, do my work. and get my
pay once week on my desk; that's enough for mo
These central Offices employ agents to open or1ces
IN other parts Of the city, the agents receiving
twelve aud half per cent commission on all sales
OF tickets made by them. Any person who chooses
to become an agent may do 50 by calling on the
fere materially with the business OF any once OF the
same company already established. This gives rise
states Commissioner Shields, whether these agents
are simply clerks OF the central company or are
independent business men, like those engaged in
any occupation whose profits are derived from COM
missions.
AS before stated there are TWO drawings each
day-one at noon which is called Extra" and
another about Blk O'Clock. An hour before the
result OF the drawing announced, oil the agencies
send their accounts or 'books," OF the tickets sold
to the central ONCE, and no more chances in that
drawing can be taken. As soon as Gil the "booKs''
have been examined at the central ONCE printed
slips Of the drawn numbers are sent to ali the
agencies, which Immediately pay out whatever may
have been won by ticket holders.
THE POLICY OFFICES
are generally In the rear Of Offices whose windows
bear the word Exchange" III large gilt letters.
place, and on entering the visitor finds man be-
hind small counter apparently having no other
few feet from the entrance is 4 partition With two
doors IN IT. one before and the other behind the
sumter. Back Of this partition is the policy oen.
This apartment Is generally OF good size, and
has q counter extending Its whole length.
en- the walls are large states, bearing the
circulars relating to the respective lotteries In one
corner OF the room record OF eli the drawings OF
crowd for lucky numbers; aud Just behind the CLERK
are displayed printed tickets III the large prize
al ss are
ton Of vermin. The Offices In the poorer districts
are worse than can be imagneA A feeble
counter composed Of Old p plank nailed nea
together behind which person as repulsve as I'M
takes in the pittances OF negroes ragged Arabs OF
the street. halfnaked beggar girls. and every class
dirt and dampness; 6otched and tattered remnants
OF ola lottery circulars are pasted about ana the
mosphere Is poisonous with foul doors. ponder
GUS negress shoves away q halfstarved chid that
has come to risk penny In the lottery,
and after discussing the merits OF the
various numbers with the policy seller. stakes her
ten or fifteen cents and makes way for others as
hideous In their depravlty a. herself. These dens,
however, are too small for exhibition of the most
Striking features OF the lottery business. In the
more decent ofilces large crowd can be admitted,
IN mere one may see al q glance representatives
nom every grade OF society. Weii-dressed clerks,
hardy mechanics, seamstresses, giay.beaded men,
Old women drunken hays ana girls aud boys whose
stature indicates ten or twelve years, but whose
features look old and hardened all lostle
ech other at the counter aud take their turns with
tn ticket seller. There is no confusion whatever.
Any one speaks 1t Is IN sundued manner Us IL the
place was watched By the police apd nearly al
stand silently aud with sort OF dogged look as II
the man behind the counter was deprivng them or
their fortunes winch, 10y hook or crook, they meant
to nave. The busiest days are saturday aud Mon
day, Immediately after the poorer classes have
csived their weeks wages. AT such times the policy
Offices are generally crowded aud large sums OF
money are taken IN.
THE PRIZES
consist Of specified sums OF money, for which cabo-