New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-06-07
The Disclosures of a San Francisco Gam.
bling Den.

bling Den.
The San Francisco Bulletin relates the
following:
The demolition of the Meade House, at
the corner of Montgomery and Pine streets,
has developed some facts of startling inter-
est. The Mead House was q rendezvous
for the gambling fraternity from early in
1865 to December, 1871, when the police
raided upon it and disturbed operations.
Until this raid the game of faro was con-
Quoted in the building in a quiet and or
derby manner, and with fair profit, the net
earnings reaching $65, 900 for single year.
This was in reality q wOrkingman's bank.
Here the working classes deposited large
Gums of money, and were not troubled with
bank books.
A few days ago. while the workmen
were taking down the walls, a number of
suspicious characters were observed hang
ing about the spot and watching the pro-
ceedings with great interest. While knock
ing away the wall OF one OF the lower
rooms, the workmen were somewhat puzzled
by the manner of the strangers. Three OF
them suddenly walked up to the spot and
watched every blow of the ak with the
made in the wall, and the next blow of the
ak caused peculiar sound, as if musical
instrument had been struck. On examina-
tiCn it was discovered that three wires
were running through the wall from floor
to ceiling. In few minutes no less than
half dozen wOrkmen were about the place
examining the wires, the three strangers
looking at each other significantly.
An investigation of the wallso tn whole
house was now commenced, and the revela-
lions were indeed, of the most startling
character. In one of tho rooms on the up
per floor was an arrangement which en-
abled player to know exactly what his
opponent held. Directly over the table, in
the centre of the room, was a small hole in
the ceiling, through which the confederate
| watched the game. Wires ran along the
ceiling to the floor, and terminated in levers
| beneath the carpet, upon which the cheat
ing gambler placed his foot. As these wires
were pIlled the number of taps telegraphed
| the course of action to pursue.
"The faro room was the most ingeniously
contrived thing in the house. In the first
place, wires ran from the door so that a
| signal was given when it opened, and in an
| instant everything was in readiness for the
drop. This was accomplished by two levers
and space beneath let into the floor. In a
| second the gamblers withdrew from the
| table, each man, of course, grabbing his
| checks and money, and by motion of the
levers the yawning floor opened and down
went the whole LAY out The carpet was
then drawn over the spot, and when
| the officers hove in sight there was nothing
in the shape of gamblers implements to be
| seen. In the house there were taken out 4 o
| less than $50 wires and several cOntrivances
| for suddenly hiding gambling Implements.
After the discovery an endeavor was made
| by the three strangers to hush the matter
up, but the affair had become noised abroad,
and already a good many strangers were
about the place, drawn thither by curiosity.
The developments are creating some stir
with the gambling fraternity, but the lead
| ing sports Of the city denied all knowledge
of the existence of the peculiar arrange