New-York tribune., 1871-07-26
i" SKINNERS.p
HOW FARO BANKS AND KENO HOUSES OBTAIN
THEIR VICTIMS.

HOW FARO BANKS AND KENO HOUSES OBTAIN
THEIR VICTIMS.
Every faro bank and keno house, high or
low whether fair in its dealings, fair is understood In
the gambling world, recognized system OF robbery,
as most OF them are proved TO be- class OF employees
variousy known as "ropers-in," "pmps," "ppes," or
"sknners" The last named term is the in gen
era use and is the most appropriate of the list for
in the hands Of OF these sharpers the victim fairly
skinned" Of everything valuable. Broadway faro
banks and keno houses have their "skinners" at
prominent hotels and places of amusement, and
the smaller gamesters OF the Bowery keep
their tools in constant attendance at concert
saloons and beer gardens. The unwary stranger at
a nrst-class hotel finds himself in the company Of
weldressed chatty ghthearted fellow, who descants
gby on every topic OF the day. until he has made him
self favore and on sufficiently good terms with the
pigeon" to lead him to the puckng place The skin
ner Of the Bowery is neither weldressed, ehaty,
fascinating, but his experience has taught him
how to deal with his victims and he is in the main,
successful HIS more aristocratic brother
Walking up Broadway last Thursday evening when in
front OF Nibos Garden reporter of THE TRIBUNE heard
one Of men exclaim " But tell don't under
stand the game" The pigeon" protesting, and
the skinner" camed his fears with, I'll call the turn
for you I'm going TO put little it myself" II he
did put any on it himself the banker swept it in to be
returned at a future time. The victims funds were
swept In without doubt, never to be returned; the
skinner receiving his per centage the amount
and stalking off after fresh victims There is not
hotel on Broadway that Is not zealously watched
by of these "touts.' Their prey generally
consists of Western and Southern merchants visiting
New-York on business and their brisk times
queny in the Spring and Autumn Their prototypes
the Bowery class OF men by no means prepossessng
may all be in single evenings stroll through the
tempted to ngratiate himself with TRIBUNE reporter
but failed, and within few moments afterward in
This was near the Atlantic Garden Almost any evening
these two-the thief and the detective-may be
Sna aes g. On ns oin
T1, ing they n.y.. were quietly stro,ling around the
sdered very successful member OF the fraternity. The
Of IN " s'Ia %RdS4 y
point to walk through the Atlantic Garden every night
at II O'clock and introduce himself into the company O.
Oi his intended Victim Being furnished i with
iyeness "Xh but You have titieT II republican, sm
Rsity dsdslSs to have handle put before its name
iects to understand why his intended pigeon refuses
" TO reveal himself IN the fun speDdor Of European title.
whole thing In downright earnest and allowing himself
10 be natered into the Idea that he Ia in good company
with suee Mortal the getting Of his sSOa
ne has any merely matter OF 10 minutes time,
his escort attached. there robbed 1t is notorious
acI thaI ths business is done every day ia Four
sun the houses remain practically undsturbed and the
police. ~ " ~ ~ ~
Where these fellows-wbo take the meanest part In
pIunaerne fools, and the least share OF the
Policemen The as matter s eSe Sspie
be German OF good family, who this country
pow employ him; while others have been thieves from
INFANCY ana VIII remain 40 10 the end of their ivas