, 1869-01-04
GAMBLERS ON RAILWAY
TRAINS.
How They Operate Between New aR
ven and New York-PartralIs frou

How They Operate Be1ygcun New E1R-
ven and New York-PsrtralIs from
Lif<-Canuon to the Uowary.
From tbs Springfield Evening News, Dec. ID.
A brief description OF some of the princi-
pa1 gamblers whose faces have become fa-
nlllar to the experienced traveller on the
railroad from this city to New York, aud cs-
pecialiy fiom New Haven 70 the metropolis.
seems almost demanded. Gamblers and pick
pockets are teaplug rich haryes. on this
route, despite the very persistent efforts Of
the railroad corporations to oust them and
nothing Will make them shrink back 80 quick
IL as seeing their portraits in print.
let us say, for New York, will notice, If he
enter the smoking car-which naturally is
busiusss mans resort on a long Journey
shortly after the train leaves New Haven, a
mcdium-slzed, tair.looking man, about 81
years old, wearing short black whlsker!.
reaching under the chin, and curling round
the lace. Uc generally wears silk
hat and dark brown broadcloth Clothes He
Is neither a brilliant nor 8 stupid.looking
Individual his eyes alone are quite keen He
might be taken for country scnoolmaster or
village lawyer, were it not Tor the searching
glauces Of suspicion he gives before he pro.
ceeds to business. He is the "stool pigeon, y
or gambler number one Of the party.
This man steps quickly through the car,
generally at New Haven, stops few mo
luents at the door, quietly md modestly sur
yeys the passengers. he then selects vacant
| several gentlemen who are talking tog:ther,
| and generally minstes in the conversation.
Ere long The car door opens again, and an
| entirely different specimen appcars. This IL
| gambler number two, who has something Of
| the +" Bowery" air about him. He has red,
full face, lringed about with short red hair
wears round.top slouch hat, Is dressed With
| q general air Of caEele.sncss, Is between twea-
| iy-tigc and thirty years OF age, under medium
size, probably weighs 140. lie usually selects
seat some little distance from bis comrade,
| and interests himself with the country boy j
and confident young men.
Gambler number three Is not long now IN
making his appearance. As be swings open
the car door with nervous energy he wonld
almost be taken for banking or Insurance
clerk, or some down town bookkceper who
lives fast. lie wears this season wide band
soft hat, short cutaWay coat, tight pants, 8
biz Of icwsl1y IS about thirty years old,
weighs pel6aps 130, short In stature, iail
face, with nd especial distinguishing charRc
terislic. He takes in the situation, whatever
1t may be. at glance. and gets scat, If pos
slble. In the front end Of the car facing the
passengers. He looks about u few N 3rneuts
then passes through III an inquIring way
Finally he arrives near 'sstooi pigeon," nnt
carele>sly asks him ii be will play game o
euchrc. 'stool pigeon" replies that be doe.
not care to play, but (turning to the victim b.
has selected} perhaps this gentleman may,
and generally one or two will be coA1ed Int,
trying hand. So gamblers two and thre,
take down cuchrc table, and 'stool pigeon
loafs necllcently behind. Thus the party
made up Of two professional gamblers an,
two green men. The play begins. "stoo
pigeon" standing In the aisle, becomes In
terested. Asthcg are sitting and be ,s stand
Ing. he can see every mans t'hand." Pres
entity the euchre game Is en.cd, md gamble
number two says, " have splendid blu
hand - then number three bursts out with
$50 Fave ! and l will bet i've dollars tha
one or the other takes the money !" "Stoc
! pigeon" now becomes interested In one 9th
green men, and says privately, "Phaw
you've got hand you can 20 'em hundre
on, If you wiilr' Green man bets, aud Is,
| course, t'cleaned OUT The party breaks u
!. soon hiter, and ''stool plgeon'' goes on TO III
.. next car. -
1t must be remembered Tint this trio
! gamblers and others Of their liz do not cor
| tine their OPERATIONS to the smoking cal
) where card tables are placed mud where
man Is rather more on bis euard, ibut In II
regular passenger cars, were the conducte
is continually passing and repasssns. fo
I may Sec them almost any dAy-the rcl
barred edfaced man the short, nervou
faced man, number three, and the mode
! ''stool pigeon" Beware OF them.
1rYyuE T. Sft tHfl ~