The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1873-03-01
"CAPPERs'' AND stROPERs.IN."

In the reportexs' columns of the New
Orleans papers these terms are fire.
quently met with by the reader. WEI
believe the editors rarely ever mention
Orleans as "ropers-in," although il
there be one evil more disgraceful to
their city than any other 1t is the fact
that these rascals do exist there, and
openly and defiantly practice upon I'M
suspecting visitors their arts Of decep-
ton and robbery. Upon the irrespon-
sible reporters alone appears to devolve
the duty Of exposing the villains known
as ''cappers'' and "ropers-in," and the
task has become so monotonous that
even the reporters have fallen into the
habit Of treating the matter in a playful
way.
The capper, or roper-in--4he two, we be-
lieve, being identical-is usually an &C.
tive young, or middle-aged fellow whose
business it is to rope people into the
gambling houses on st. Charles street.
His dress varies with the part he is to
play. At one time he has on WELL
worn suit, to indicate that he is just in
from the country. Usually, in this
character, he is just from Texas, OF Is
on his way there. He will meet you
smilingly, call your name, having got
it from the register of the hotel, or
heard some one call it, or having seen
it on your trunk, and then proceed to
interrogate you as would some old
acquaintance. You are next invited
to take drink, and probably while
drinking, are told OF a lottery Office
door or two of, but always upstairs,
whittier the roper asks you to accom-
pany him to get q ticket cashed. He
exhibits the ticket, and then, il you bite
and go to the office, which is simply
q gambling hell, there are ten chances
to one that you are robbed of your
money.
AT another time the cappeR is gen.
teelly dressed, clean-shaven, and sports
a beaver and cane. This fellow prac-
tees upon the gentlemen from other
cities. He has met this one in Chicago,
at such a hotel, and saw him play bill
lizards there; and this one he met last
summer at tho Eutaw House in Balti-
more. It is generally the case that the
Individual thus approached was at the
place indicated at the very time stated,
facts the capper has ascertainei by n
little eavee-dropping or otherwise
Upon these city gentlemen the lottery
game is also tried, but usually it proves
"too thin," as was shown recently in
the case Of q gentleman from Baltimore
who listened to one Of these vultures
tention, when he beckoned to the off,
Ger, and tho capper incontinently
dropped his prey and fled.
What particular tricks arc played in
the lottery' offices, we have never
learned, as the average human who
goes there, and is feeced, is not apt to
confess what fool he was. In this
cowardice Of the victim, the capper re-
poses his greatest confidence in avoid
ing detection. And it is also true that
in q very short time one seems to be-
come Indifferent to the losses other
people may suffer through the arts Of
tho capper, and rather contemplaSes
the seance between the capper and his
auditor, rs the one gesticulates, smiles
and bows, and the other hesltates,
queries and struggles to bear up against
temptation, With feelings Of mingled
pleasure, pain and curiosity, and is
rather reluctant to see the contest end
ed by simple wink or word Of warn
ing to tho poor fellow about to be roped
In. 1t is 80 easy to watch the struggle
conplacently and satisfy ones qualms
with some such mental ejaculation as
Well il that man be such fool as to
DO caught when he ought to know who
that sraccless dog Is, why let him suffer!
Besides, there are not many lookers-on
who care to get up scene with q
gambling hell pimp on the banquettc,
eSpecially when he nav reasonable,