, 1873-06-22

game, o0nko," anG other devices, by which
| one class Of persons are fecced, and another
class get the fleece. There has been much
written on this subject, and vast amount OF in
dgnation hurled at the winners in these devices
but there is another side to al these stories OF
robbery by confidence operations, which it would
be as well to understand. Thus, for instance, we
read occasionally, il not regularly, that
Farmer This or That met On the cars or
elsewhere, an agreeable acquaintance; that
after while this acquaintance produced
check, say for $500, stamped and
endorsed, on sone weI-known bank; that the
farmer Is induced to lend his acquaintance SIS,
taking the check as security; that the farmer,
on presentation OF the check at the bank, dis
cove1a that it is fraud. whereupon he rushes
to the police office, demanding the capture OF
the confidence man and the restoration OF his
money. The pocket~book trick is old, but,
nevertheless, it still finds victims. A man picks
up apocket-book on the sidewalk, which he opens
in the presence OF the crowd, who are env;ous
of Ills good luck; be declares that he In stran-
thezo will unquestionably be large reward, as
will hand the whole thing over to any per-
son who will give him $50 and take the chances
Of never having tho book or money called for
Tho man who pays the money finds soon after
that the book is stuffed with counterfeit notes.
The latest device adopted in Chicago is to induce
men to 20 to q bunko-room, where, by putting
down dollar, and throwing dice, tho player may
win anywhere from 81 to $500 a throw. After
playing while the visitor finds himself stripped
OF his money and his winnings, and ho, too,
rushcs OF to the police
It is usual for the papers, in recording these
robberies, to refer to the verdancy aud sim-
plicity OF tho yictims, and to attribute to
them q degree OF credulity and innocence
wholly unnatural in this age. But this is not
the truth. That these people are deceived and
robbed is entirely true, but that they are VIC
timized because Of their simplicity is not so true
Is that in nine cases out of ten they are over
reached in their efforts TO play sharp game
for their own benefit. The countryman in the
credulous simploton who lends money to the
first man that aaks it. Ho is not to be reached
through his verdancy. But be ia keenly alive
to any bargain by which be can add to
bis funds, and, when some person who has
made himself agreeable is met on his way
to the bank BY al immediate demand for q COM
paratively small sum, and tho demand is so
pressing that he offers to pay $50 OF $50 for the
use Of 800 until be can 60 few blocks further
to the bank, then the acute gentleman from the
rural districts hearkens to The proposition. He
takes the check in his own hands, advances the
800, and proceeds with his obliged friend to the
bank, anxious to clutch the 20 per cent profit on
= ten-minuto loan. Before reaching the bank,
the borrower alps out OF his sight; but, intent |
on his profit, the financial operator presents
the check and discovers that lie has
been overreaohed. While the crime is
none the less, yet is the victim fairly |
entitled to tho sympathy he receives? He
would not have loaned one dollar OF his money !
10 human being tor any other consideration
Than the notwithstanding, in his estima-
Eion--of large and immediate profit; q profit /
which would have been worthy Of taking about,
md which would have confirmed his own notion |
hat he was capable Of conducting large busi-
aess, if he had the opportunity. When he goes
% the police, however, he never discloses his
OWN side OF the case; he never tells that ho had
oaned tho money upon the agreement that
10 WAS to get s10, $780,, or even s5G Tor
ts uso until he could reach the bank and
:spay himself from the proceeds Of the check
So WITH the man who advances tho money On the
'ound pocket-book; ho says nothing Of his pur-
oose to reimburse himself at larRe profit from
t. contents, Or his expectation OF keeping the
1holo OF it should no owner appear to claim it,
10 With the victims Of buHko. Each one goes to
hese games to win money Avarice, the 1~fe OF
gain, the desire to obtain sometbi~o lor nothing,
nduco these men to 60 60 tho hunko-rooms
nd throw dice, to ga. from the keeper. They
10 sometip,.s viz, and, pocketing the
,rocoeds, never SO to the police; but
ghea they lose in their attempt to
lin money from othera; when, instead Of
ictimizing the keepers, they are themselves the
,ictins, they rush to the police, demanding, dras
nd foremost, the return Of thelr money. Their
ncrel and religious views have received no
hock thsiF respect for Law and their regard for
ocial order have in no wise been agg1ieyed;
heir whole complaint Is that they are so much
nut Of pocket, and they want their mopey bgck
here is not 20 case where tho police have been
BILE to catch the successful operator in one Of
hese jobs where he has not secured the silence
4 his victim BY refunding the money.
tits questionable whetherany Of theseeo~cal1ed
ictims OF confidence or bpnk9 are entitled to any
,articular sympathy, and whether, when bnnko
establishment is raided. al tho players, winners
nd losers, ought not to be treated alike as gam
]ers seoAing to fleece each other. The proprie~
ors Of the establishments ought in every case to
e punished as vagrants but there can be no
,nra1 distinction drawn between the plaYern