Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-08-31
How Faro Banks and Keno Ron
tain Their Victims.

EVERY faro bank and keno bqr,
or low, whether fair in its d alDs
is understood in the gambling vr
recognized system of robbery, al
them are proved to be, has cl,s
ployes, variously known as 40,
"pimps," "pipes or "skinnh
last named term is the one no.
use, and is the most approprss
list, for once in the hands of OH
sharpers. the victim is fairly q.
Of everything valuable. BrosdJ
banks and keno houses have tia
ners" at prominent hotels and
amusement, and the smaller gaI
the Bowery keep their tools in
attendance at concert saloons
gardens. The unwary stranger
class hotel finds himself in the
of a well -dressed, chatty, iight
fellow, who descants glibly On eve
Of the day, until he has made b
favorite, and is on sufficiently god
with tie "pigeon to lead him +
plucking place. The skinner
Bowery is neither SO well-dressed,
nor SO fascinating, but his experie
taught him how to deal with his
and he is, in the main, as successfE
more aristoeratic brother.
Walking up Broadway last Ii
evening, when in front of Niblo's
a reporter OF the Tribune heard
two men exeiaim, But l tell you
understand the game" The "s
was protesting, and the skinner
his fears with, "Ill call the turn ht
I'm going to put little on it mysE
he did put any on it himself, tie
swept it in to be returned at futus
The victims funds were swept in n
a doubt, never to be returned; the
ner" receiving his percentage
amount and stalking off after fra
Tins. There is not a hotel on Dns
that is not zealously watched hyd
more of these "touts." Their prey
ally consists Of Western and 81
merchants, visiting New York on b
and their brisk times are conseques
the spring and autumn. Their pro
of the Bowery, class of men
means progressing, may all be seen
gle evenings stroll through the b
dens. A few nights ago one of th
attempted to in9ratiate himself
Tribune reporter, but failed, and
few moments afterward was in d
amicable conversation with
tective. This was near the
tic Garden. Almost any evenI
two-the thief and the des
may be seen lounging about the ba
of the Atlantic and adjacent beer 4
On Saturday morning they wers
strolling around the Toombs. Tn
ner" is well known, and is cons
very successful member of the tn1
The detective is not attached to ia
Ward, though most Of his timesa
its saloons. Another young MAJ
for his persuasive demeanor, mai
point to walk through the Atlantic
every night at II o'clock, and ID
himself into the company of SOM
ger, as though installing him for
quaintance. On discovering his1
modestly asks the name of bis .
victim. Being furnished with y
binary surname, he inquiries VIII
impressiveness, "Ah, but you haV'i
If republican simplicity disdainsf
handle put before his name, thh
sive skinner" casts down bis g
affects to understand why bis
pigeon" refuses to revt al himsl
full splendor of European GIL
chances are in favor of some W
taking the whole thing in 90,
earnest, and allowing himself 70
tered into the idea that he is In se
pany.
If the Skinner succeeds N
himself on good terms with me Dc.
mortal, the getting of his cash, i
any, is merely a matter of ten o.
minutes time, as he is speedily ca
to the faro bank to which his csc
tached, and there robbed. ltssp
TACT that this business is done eva
the Fourteenth Ward, ard comp
robbery are frequent. Still the
main practically undisturbS .,
SINNERS are usually on tN
terms with the police.
Where these fellows-who
neanest part in plunoering foo :s
,eive the least share of the pIODs
rom, is matter thaty puzzles eve
policemen. The one last menllOp
s believed to be a German q 60"
Who came to this country win "
IL money which he lost to inc
now employ him; willis othe,s
.hieves from infancy, and WIZ
o the end Of their lives.-h !"