The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1869-12-21
The Lottery Swindies.
Correspondence ofthe Troy Daily Times.
THE POLICY SYSTEM

THE POLICY SYSTEM.
NEw YORK, Nov. 26th, lS60.-The
recent exposure of the lottery, or as it is
commonly called "the policy system"
would in some places be followed by an
effort to break it up, but in New York our
police are subsidized by crime, and hence
nothing will be DONE Enough, however,
has been said to show the magnitude of
the system, which indeed corresponds with
the genius of its master, Ben. Wood. This
man has spent quarter Of century or
thereabout in learning the business, and
has been proficient student He is to
the lottery business what A. 7. Stewart
is to dry goods or what Vanderbilt is to
railroads. Ben. Woods character might
be judged from the fact that he is Fern
ando Woods brother, arcades amJo. 1t is
doubtful if ever before this, two brothers
were more alike, with the sole exception,
perhaps, Of the twins of Greek mythology
One point ofgreat similarity is their poit-
ical ambition. Ben is glorifed in Con-
gress, while Fernando has been both Con-
gresham and Mayor. The country surely
would perish were it not for such guar
dians
HOW BEN. GOT AT IT.
Ben. and Fernando are old residents Of
this city. They began poor but had the
common ambition to live without labor. Sc
they began speculating About twenty
eight years ago, l used to notice a tiny
sign on door post in South street, which
read Fernando Wood" He was ther
shifting along, shaving any one he could
get hold of. and dipping into. parties ol
whom he could get credit. AS an illus
tration, the following statement has beer
made in public manner and have new
er heard it contradicted, A certain banl
had accounts with two parties, one whom
will call number two," seldom had any
balance and was of little Importance
One day, however, the receiving teller BY
mistake placed to his credit deposi
made by the other man Wood numbe
two soon discovered the mistake, and i'm
mediately drew out his balance. This
was at the time considered sharp practice
but believe that it has since been equal
led, if not distanced. | need not refe
any farther to the honorable Fernando
for the history Of the equally honorable
Benjamin is more to our purpose. Al
idlers and adventures are addicted to tn
study of chance, and out Of this class
few of the more lucky get rich. Ben
early saw the golden field of lottery prac
tice, and from small beginnings became it
master spirit This is the way Ben. GO
at it.
DETAILS OF LUCK.
Ben's little shop soon did much bus
ness that he opened branch, and the
another, and so on until several hundre
/ Offices we're established. One may see
FIVE minutes walk in any street inhabite
by the poor one or more little offices dil
nifed with the sign Exchange" Th
shop purports to be brokers' office, br
. what does money broker do in thes
parts2 There is a screen before the doc
aud curtain at the window, and it is e1
ident that whatever business is done hei
!. is not intended for the the public ey
But how does this Office live2 You ma
- watch it all the forenoon without seeir
any one enter. So you may all the afte
=, noon Evening comes, and now Il
:, scene becomes one Of life. Here ente
: the mechanic with the tools under his ar
!; Just returning from his days work. /
d has all day been calculating on figure
y and now will take new chance. Ne
comes the house maid who has drea
- book and has dreamed lucky numbt
which Of couese she must try, and here
a grocer's clerk whose pilSerings email
him to buy ticket. In this way for Sc
4 eral hours the business will rush in, a
well make up for the idleness. There q
nearly one thousand of these Offices in Il
, city, and the largest part Of them is ow
or or ed by Ben. Wood. He pays each mar
ly ger per centage on the business, a
"a draws the lions share into his own pur
le No wonder he can buy his way to CC
re gress, and can run newspaper, besic
t living like a prince.
OF CHIEF CUSTOMERS.
Z The fools are not all dead yet. i
er harvest of this class is larger than ey
be Anything that affects the chance is 81
ia ia to take. Gift enterprises and simi
he swindles never fail TO attract rich retur
no iu and of course lotteries have the sa
O. charm. There is certain class which
ho lieye in luck. According to their d
.ep s trine there is mysterious way, that
Do in way not easily explained Some
'I5 '.5 lucky ia fishing and always bring hom
bis "mess." Others are always finding m
ia, ey and any valuables, while others HI
ls 'hs a knack at getting people to die and lei
be them fortunes. The writer on the econtr
On On never had any gift in that line, never '
1t, good at the art piscatorial, never fol-
got money, never had legacy, never nj
urs II. anything in speculation, neverdrew a pl
sts, or even owned a lottery ticket. Wi
ever he has got is the fruit of plodding
ai'' Dor. In other words, he is not lu,
man, and he is very thankful for
!. Others however, a. he has been stai