Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1871-08-31
How Faro Banks and Keno Houses Oh.
tain Their Victims.

tain Their Victims.
EVERY faro bank and keno house, high
or low, whether fair III it's dealings, as fair
is understood in the gambling world, or a
| recognized system of robbery, as most OF
them are proved to be- has q class of em-
ployes, variously known as "ropers- il" "
pimps," pipes" or "skinn. The
last'n imed 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 "skiuncd "
OF e'erytffi,s:.c valuable. Broadway faro
| banks and keno houses have their skin
| ners at prominent hotels and places of
amusement, and the smaller gamesters of
the Bowery keep their tools in constant
attendance at concert saloons anu beer
gardens. The unWary stranger at first
class hotel finds himself in the company
Of W: II dressed, cbatty, light hearted
fellow, who d,s. ants 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
piucking place. The skinner" Of the
Bowery is neither so welldrcssed, chatty,
nor SO fascinating, but his experience has
taught him how to deal with his victims,
and he is, in the main, as successful as his
more aristocratic brother.
Walking up Broadway last Thursday
evening, when in front of Niblo's Garden
reporter Of the Tribune heard one of
two men exclaim, But l tell you l don't
understand the game" The "pigeon y
~as protesting, ana the "skinner" Gained
his fears with, ell call the turn for you /;
I'm going to put little on it myself" Ii
he did put any on it himself, the banker
swept it in to be returned at future time
The victims funds were swept in without
a doubt. never to be returned; the skin.
ner" receiving his PERCENTAGE on the
amount and stalking off after fresh vic
tlms. There is not hotel on Broadway
that is not Ztalous]y 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 ere consequently in
the spring and autumn. Their prototypes
of the Bowery, class of men by no
means progressing, may all be seen in a sin
gle evenings stroll through the beer gar
dens A few nights ago one of these men
attempted to ingratiate himself with a
Tribune reporter, but failed, and within a
few moments afterward was in close and
amicable conversation with q ward de-
tective. This was near the Allan
tic Garden. Almost any evening these
two-the thief and the detective
may be seen lounging about the bar rooms
of the Atlantic and adjacent beer gardens
On Saturday morning they were quietly
strolling around the 1oombs. This skin.
ner " is we'll 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
It's saloons. Another young man, noted
for his persuasive Gemeanor, makes it a
point to walk through the Atlantic Garden
every night at II o'clock, and introduce
himself into the company of some stran-
ger, as though mistaking him for an &c
quaintance. On discovering his error he
modestly asks the name of his intended
victim. Being furnished with some or
binary surname, he inquiries with much
impressiveness, "Ah, but you have a title r
II 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 intendrd
pigeon refuses to rev, al himself in the
full splendor of 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 notorious
fact that this business is done every day in
the Fourteenth Ward, and complaints of
robbery art frequent. Still the houses re-
main practically undis urbtd, and the
"skinners are usually on the best of
| terms with the police.
Where these fellows-who take the
meanest part in pluncering fools, and re-
ceive the least share of the profits-come
from, is matter that puzzles oven astute
policemen. The one last mentioned above
is believed to be a German good family,
who came to this country with pochet'ul
of money which he lost to the mcn who
now employ him; Wills Others have been
thieves from infancy, and will remain SO
to the end Of their lives.-N 7. Tribune.