The Portland daily press., 1873-04-26
Maine Central Diversions.

'sPRoF.n John Haynes-"Profs." are plen-
ty in these days-and Slim Jim are cheerful
~ pursuing the pleasant and lucrative paths
oftheir fayorite industry on the cars Of the
Maine Central Railroad. Yesterday between
Richmond and Brunswick they began a
friendly game of euchre as partners, a
young man from down-east Jown--whose
name we withhold at his earnest request
another gentleman both of whom were igno-
rant of the character of the swindlers be-
ing their opponents. Presently the '.Prof.'
discovered that he had very good poker
hand-on his own deal-and expressed the
opinion that 1t was the best at the board
The down-easter, who also had good hand,
rather demurred, and the discussion which
ensued resulted in wager of thirty-fve dol
lars which of course Dir. Verdant Green lost,
having four queens and an ace while honest
John had four kings. We state the hands
SO that wicked persons who know the COM
parative value of cards may see exactly how
IL was done. Earlier in the day the rascals,
by some of their games, robbed another fat
of forty dollars in the Brunswick Depot.
They practice their profession every day on
the cars, and we have accounts of many 9TH
or successful ventures of theirs. 1t seems al
most incredible that people are extant, in
these days, of such marvellous density of stu
pidity as to be taken in by SO glaring and
palpable frauds. Yet the fact exists, and it
should be the duty ofsomebody to prevent the
recurrence of such scenes as that of yesterday.
1t is a crying shame that the railroad manag-
ers have not devised some means to meet this
disgracelul prostitution of their cars for gamb-
ling purposes. These gentlemen say that
they have instructed the conductors TO stop
gambling when they see it, and seem to think
they have thus discharged their whole duty
to the public. But the conductors without
assistance are impotent to preventit, as moth
ing Of the kind is attempted in their presence
and the gamblers have with them an accom-
plice to watch the movements of the conduct
or, and report his approach. A practical
man in the management, who meant business,
would soon devise means of prevention.
We propose TO protect the public so far as
we can, and for that purpose will give de-
scription of these fellows as they appeared
yesterday, though they are probably capable
Of many transformations. ''Prof'' John
Haynes is stout, Observation-Disclosures, thick built
rufian, with broad face smoothly shaved
except a dark monstache, large thick nose,
and cold gray eyes. He wore dark blue
half cape oyercoat and black cap. Slim Jim
is of about the same height but of sIighter
frame with flushed countenance, and evil
looking, bleared eyes, evincing great intima-
cy with bad rum, dark hair, a dark moustache
without whiskers, a green and blue plaid
necktie, dark scotch coat, and a soft black
hat. Their general appearance is one of bus
iness like gravity. approaching sadness even
until their expressive countenances light up
with innocent exultation on discovering that
they have "a good poker hand" They are
both understood to differ Numerically in
opinion from those moral persons who regard
plavinp cards as a waste of time