The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-21

OF 6rotherly Love-
BOSTON, Jan. 90, 1874
Few who have visited Boston during the last
year or year and q half could iaH to have noticed
the extensive gambling which has been carrie, on
here under the disguise OF the prize candy frame
During the last few months particularly has tbe
business nOurshed in all the principal streets ann
all classes ages and sexes OF the community have
seemed to be insane on the subject. II one can
Judge from the liberal patronage which has been
bestowed upon the numerous establishments
during their prolonged and aourishng existence.
II Is probably no eXaggeration to say that
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS
have been scOOped In from as many victims during
the past year or two The pioneer and king OF the
business In Boston has been q wry wizcned
CHAP named Flint Peaslee, who has probably done
more business than oil the others combined, and,
until lew weeks, has successfully deGed all the
onicers and Courts In Boston or any other part OF
Christendom. His manner OF operations has been
TO sell plpestem candy at five cents q stick. Each
suck was done up in paper and inside OF some OF
them were checks emitting the fortunate buyer to
Whatever prize was named thereon. These
prizes ranged from ten cents in currency
up to Atty cent and dollar silver pieces,
and gold coins from So so to $1O
and very occasionally barrel of -four
Or q ton OF coal OF course very large proper
ton OF the sticks sold contained no cheeks what
ever, and these were roekOned as blanks. The
very iasignhcance of the business was in. fact its
magnitude. For five cent piece ans one could
try his luck. and it was often the case that
THE IRRESISTIBLE INFLUENCE
which attaches to al gambling was apparent here.
for many who would 20 IN only to try their luck
l0ur or i've times would often try IL as many hun
dred times, and return again Tor successive days
and evenings and 40 the same thing. 1t Is hardly
QslrV IN Al fhnf rIt nf aiuta
ventirers were like SO many FOOLS AID their.
money. The ''skinniest" kind OF "skin" game
dint" game Of Flint Peaslee. He had spacious
loom on fremont row. and afterwards enlarged
by night and an abundant display OF tinse and
bunting by day, together with the incessant ring
ing OF gong. shrewd advertising In the papers.
with now ana then the announcement OF an act Of
philanthropic or benevolent nature--ail these,
with the chance, possible impossible, OF getting
a $40 gold piece lor five cent nickel, attracted
THOUSANDS OF VICTIMS DAILY
There was no class OF the community but was
bankers and brokers, mechanics and IaDorers and
even beggarS whose faces have been familiar on
the streets Tor years. mingled in the general throng
THE NEW GAME OF pEAsLEE.
Even women. some Of them wei dressed and ap.
parently refined, together with shop girls and
elderly hags, whose appearance indicated but very
short stay on the mundane sphere-all these, with
common line OF humanity anxious TO try their luck
at Peaslee. Even the city police got demoralized.
ana playcu tue game WITH sucn desperation that
the Chief had to issue an order ioroldding their
participation IN it under penalty OF removal from
Office. For months and months this order OF things
continued, and some days as many rs So 700 sticks
were disposed Or In TACT there was no limit to the
demand. The physical endurance OF Peaslee or
Mrs. Peasee sell and the ability OF the manulac-
turer TO supply the candy were the only question.
The entire resources OF the largest CONDITIONER In
Boston were inadequate. and q small army OF girls
were hardly able 10 wrap the sticks in papers fast
enough to supply the vctimized buyers.
During all this habouD OF excitement In the
n Ana ri N nnln M a
carried into effect scheme waich iairly
OuT-PEASLEED PEAsLEE.
and resulted in her making q lew hundred dollars
for herself and some friends. The sticks aiming
the checks for tine cash priZes-Some 500 In num-
another pile OF wics continued ns
checks, and OF course the purchasers oil these got
the same as olanks IN any ordinary lottery. 1t
prize sticks with great many others which con-
one morning when the place was first opened
for business, she delivered to Mr.. Peas,ee, a: his
selling window, batch t;; Of about 800 sticks.
'sYes, SIR" answered the innocent maiden, ana
then the sale commenced.
Peaslee was astonished to find that his first few
customers invested IN sums ranging from So to $25
each, and. as none OF them seemed in a hurry to
present cnecks Tor payment, he naturally concluded
he was probably happy IN the anticipation OF
handsome mornings profit. 1t was only a lew
which the girl had given him as properly mixed"
were disposed Of and he called to her for soma
more. AT aDOuC CulS time the demand
Tor candy was not 80 brisk. On the
contrary, those whom moment before he
could not supply fast enough now positively re.
fused to indulge further in the little game OF Peas
lee. This, OF course provoked surprise, but 1t
was no hing compared with his astOnishment
when the customers OF a lew minutes before now
began to present a multitude OF cnecks for paw
ment amounting in the aggregate to nearly $1,000
in specie, and for which he had only received
about 800 III currency. The manner in which
He WENT FOR THAT LITTLE WORKING GIRL
was neither SLOW nor digniied.
"Why you cOnfounIed ninny," he exclaimed,
"every stick in that package you gave me con.
tanned checks for prizes"
Calmly looking around, and in tone of aston.
isnment and regret. as II she had but just discOv-
cred her mistake, the young girl stammered:-
"Why, SO they did, Mr.. Peaslee."
1t Is hardly necessary to add that the young
lady services were no longer required, but it is
fair to presume that her snare OF the profits result
ing such stupid blunder was ample compensation
for the loss OF her situation.
PEAsLEE DRIVEN FROM THE CITY.
Several indictments were finally returned
against the vendor by the Grand Jury, and others
engaged in the same business were also prosecuted
for maintaining lottery. Discovering that things
were getting unconiortably tropical an interview
was had with District Attorney May and he con-
senIed to place the cases On ile II the business was
permanently suspended Discretion was the better
part Of vai0r ana the dealers unanimously agreed
to suspend. PeasIee, though is irrepressible and
indOmitabie and he has transferred his business
from Boston to Philadelphia, where he hopes the
not surprise the HubOnians If he manages In some
way to ring his business into the forthcoming
Centennial celebration for which the "City OF Bro
therly Love" is now making snch extensive prep
aratiOns.