The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-01-08

Igrom the Springfield Evening News. Dec. 26l
A Lrief description of some Of the principal
gamblers whose faces have become familiar to
the experienced traveller on the railroad from this
city to New York. and especially from New Haven
10 the metropolis, seems almost demanded. Gam
blers aud pickpockets are reapng rich harvest
this route despite the very persistent efforts Of
tie railroad corporations to oust them; and no.
thing will make them shrink back so quickly as
seeing their portraits in print.
The traveller by the afternoon train, bound, let
say, for New York, will notice, If he enter the
smoking car-which naturally is a business mans
resort long journey-shortly after the train
leaves New Haven, a medium sized, fair-looking
man. about 80 years old, wearing short black
whiskeIs reaching under the chin, and curling
round the face.
He generally wears a silk hat and dark browss
broadcloth clothes. he is neither brilliant nos
a stupid. looking individual his eyes alone are
quite keen. He might be taken for country
scloolmaster or village lawyer, were 1t not for
the searching glances Of suspicion he gives before
he proceeds TO business. He is the 4" stool
pigeon" OF gambler number one of the party.
The man steps quickly through the car, gene
rally at New Hav n, stops few moments st the
door. quietly and modestly surveys the passen-
gers. He then selects vacant seat, If possible,
in the Immediate vicinity of several gentlemen
who are talking together, and generally mingles
in the conversation.
Ere long the Car door opens again, and an
trey different specimen appears This is gambler
number two, who has some ething of the "Bowery"
about with short red hair; wears q round.top
slouch hat, is dressed with general air of care
lessness, is between twenty-five and thirty years
OF ege, under medium size, probably weighs lao.
he usually selects seat some little distance from
bis comrade, and interests himself with the coun-
try boys and confident young men.
Gambler number three Is not long now in max
ing bis appearance. AS he swings open the car
door with nervous energy he would almost be
take fer q banking or insurance clerk, or some
down town book keeper who lives fast. He wears
this seaso on wide band soft hat, short cutaway
coat, tight pants, bit Of jewery is about thirty
years old, weighs perhaps l30, short in stature.
fair face with no especial distinguishing charac-
teristic. He takes in the situation, whatever 1t
may be, at glance, and gets seat, II possible.
IN ihe front end of the car facing the passengers.
He locks about few moments, then passes
| through in an inquiring way. Finally he arrives
near :" stool pigeon" and carelessly asks him II
| he will play a game of euchre. Stool pigeon
replies that be does not TO play, but turning
to the victim he has selecttd) "perhaps this gem
! temsn may" and generally one or two will be
| coaxed into trying hand. So gamblers two and
| three take down euchre table, and stool
pigeon loafs negligently behind. Thus the
| party is made up of two professional gamblers
| and two green men. The play begins Stool
pigeon" ;" standing in the aisle becomes interested
As they are sitting and he is standing, he can
see every mans hand" Presently the euchre
| is ended, and gambler number two says, " have
| a splendid bluff hand :" then number three bursts
| out with, " So have and will bet Eve dollars
| that one or the other takes the money!" "Stool
| piReon" /" new becomes interested in one OF the
| green men, and says privately. "Pshaw you've
| OF bend you can go 'em hundred on. II you
Ill ~ Green man bets and II, of course cleane
ou'." The party breakup soon after, and stool
| pigeon goes on the next car.
Ii must be remembered that this trio OF gamb-
| lefs ard others of their like do not confne their
| operations to the smoking car, where card tables
| ave placed and where man is rather more oa his
/ guard but in the regular passenger cars, where
the conductor is continually passing and repassng
| You may see them almost any day-the red-hared,
| red-faced man the short, nervousfaced man.
| number three, and the modest " stool pigeon"
| Reware Of them.