Carson daily appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1873-1877, 1874-06-06

THREE CARD MONTE is tie devils own
trick at cards. 1t is not gambling. but
a thieving game. The thing contern-
plated by the jusglers who toss the
three cards is theft, not the playing OF a
game of chance. Gambling means
hazard. There is no hazard involved or
contemplated in French monte. So 1t
is a piece of ou;lawry, like the thim5les
and the game OF priek-the-loop. Time
w3s, in California, when this game WAS
denounced by specia! statute as a SWIM
die, and inhibited, along with thimble
rigging and the string game. There was
another thieving game, called horses
tail faro which was tabood. too. The
coming of greenhorns into this part of
the world, via the Pacific Railroad has
opened a market tor this three card
legerdemain. At the way stations be-
tween Truckee and Toano these harpies
make their game and reap their harvest.
Some of them swindled the wrong man,
the other day. A Winnemucca cores
poadent of the .SlreI. State tells the cir
cumstances Of this bit OF scouudrelism
and of the prompt measures taken to
punish the offending parties. Says he:
The most notable event of the last ten
days has been the arrest of the three
card thieves. About ten days ago Peck,
one of the gang operating ut this place,
insinuated himself into the good graces
OF a Westward bound passenger by the
name of Smalley, and borrowed money
and !, gold watch from him to bet ut the
three dice game, manipulated 10y Nc
Clellan and the bar-keeper at the Cali
fornia Saloon. Peek represented to
SInalley that he WAS a passenger. and
that IL cousin on the train carried all his
money. and that in case he lost he would
get TIE money and redeem the watch.
He lost. Of course. and Mcclellan took
the watch and coin When the bell
rang. all hands made a frantic rush for
the train. which Snalicy boarded, cher
isLing the fond delusiou that Peek
would procure the money from his
cousin" and redeem the watch. After
proceeding a few miles, SInailey made a
vain search for his new found friend.
Peck was not on the train; he had step
ped from the rear car before the train
was fairly under way. Snlalley began
to smell large-sizsd mouse, and after a
conversation with some of the loca!
passengers, made up his mind that there
was something putrid in Denmark. He
left the train at the Humboldt House.
and next morning, to the CONSERVATION
of the confidence men, returned to WIN
nemucca. He succeeded IN reSaininG
his watch and money, and soon after
wards Peck and Mcclellan were arrested
on charge of swindling. They were
examined before Justice Grass. and are
held to await the action of the next
Grand Jury in the sum Of 81 LOCO each. |
c. f. Allen, the bartender at the Cali
fornia Saloon. and a gambler whose |
name l have forgotten. attempted To |
spirit away the witness. but We're unsEc- |
cessful, and now both lau.uIsh in the |
Hotel de King, and Will be tried the |
coming week The prosecution has !
been conducted by the District Attorney, |
L. Y. Julien, and MessTs. BonnIfeld /
and Earian. 1t Seems to be tie general |
wish that the punishment their many |
crimes have merited be melted out to |
them. and very few. even, of those who |
pretend to responsibility hut have 1t |
not. express a desire to have the Gagged |
swindlers escape without punishment. |
People begin TO feel that this practice OF |
robbing people must be- put down