South-eastern Independent. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1871-1871, 1871-08-25
Miscellany.
How Faro Banks and Keno Houses OBJ
tain Their Victims.

EVERY faro bank and keno house, high
or low, whether fair in its alings, as fair
is understood in the gambling world, or a
recognized system of robbery, as most OF
them are proved 10 be, has class of en-
plOyes, variously known as "ropers-in," !"
"pimps," pipes" or "skinners" The
last-named term is the one now in general
use, and is the most appropriate of the
list, for once in the hands of one of these
sharpers, the victim is fairly "skinned 1"
OF everything valuable. Broadwa faro
banks and keno houses have their ska
ners at prominent hotels and places of
amusement and the smaller gamesters of
the Bowery keep their tools ia constant
attendance at concert saloons and beer
gardens. The unwary stranger at first
class hotel finds himself in the COMPANY
of W ll-dressed, chatty, light hearted
fellow, who descants glibly on every topic
of the day, until he has made himself a
favorite, and is on sufficiently good terms
with the ..pigeon" to lead him to the
plucking place. The " skinner" of the
Bowery is neither so well l-dressed, chatty,
nor so fascinating, but his experience has
taught him how to deal with his victims,
and he is. n the main, as successful as his
more aristocratic brother.
Walking up Broadway last Thursday
evening" when in front of Niblo's Garden
a reporter of the Tribune heard one of
two men excaim, " But tell you l don't
understand the game" The "pige on"
was protesting, and the " skinner calmed
his fears with, +" 1 II call the turn for you;
I'm goingto put little on it myself" If
he did put any on it himself the banker
swept 1t in to be returned at future time.
The victims funds were swept in without
doubt, never to be returned; the skin
ner receiving his percentage on the
amount and stalking off after fresh vic
TINS. There is not hotel on Broadway
that is not zealously watched by one or
more of these touts" Their prey gener- |
ally consists of Western and Southern |
merchants, visiting New York on business.
and their brisk times are COZ sequently in 1
the spring and autumn. Their prototypes /
OF the BoweTy, a class of men by no |
means progressing may all beseen ia sin |
gle evenings stroll through the beer gar
dens- A few nights ago one of these men |
attempted to iBgratiale himself with a |
Tribune reporter, but failed, and withina !
few moments afterward was in close and |
amlcable conversation with a ward de- |
tectve. This was near the Attain |
TIC Garden. Almost any evening these |
two-the thief and the detective
may be seen lOunging about the bar-roonns |
of the Atlantic and adjacent beer gardens.
On Saturday NOR ing they were quietly |
strolling around the foombs. This skin.
ner is well known, and is considered a
very successful member of the fraternity.
The detective is not attached to the Sixth |
Ward, though most of his time is spent in
Its saloons. Another young man, noted
for his persuasive demeanOr, makes it a
point to walk through the Atlantic Garden
every night at IL o'clock, and introduce
himself into the company of some stIan-
ger, as though mistaking him for an &C.
qualntance. On discovering his error he
modestly asks the name of his intended
victim. Being furnished with some or
dinary surname, he inquir,s with much
impressiveness, "Ab, bus you have title?'
If republican simplicity disdains to have a
handle put before his name, this persua-
sive skinner" casts down his eyes, and
affects to understand why his intendDd
" pigeon refuses to rev, al himself in the
full splendor of a European title The
chances are in favor of some vain fool
taking the whole thing in downright
earnest, and allowing himself to be fiat
tered into the idea that he is in good COM
pany.
If the skinner" succeeds in placing
himself on good terms with the gullible
mortal, the getting of his cash, if he has
any, is merely matter of ten or fifteen
minutes time, as he is speedily carried off
to the faro bank to which his escort is at ,
tached, and there robbed. 1t is a notorious !
fact that this business is done every day in
the Fourteenth Ward, ard complaints of
robbery are frequent. Still the houses re-
main practically undis urbed, and the j
skinners are usually on the best of
terms with the police.
Where these fellows-who take the l
part in plunGering fools, and re-
ceive the least share of the profits-come
from, is a matter that puzzles even assute
policemen. The one last mentioned above {
Is believed to be German good family, {
who came to this country with pocket'ul I
Of money which he lost to the men who I
now employ him; willis Others have been
thieves from infancy, and viii remain so
to the end of their ives.-N T. Tribune !