Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-07-15


his cards well while shutting them, and
the victim loses his money. "Try it
again, says the man of the cards. 1t is
tried. and again the victim suffers loss.
Then the game is urged upon him, and,
feeling assured that he can at least win
once and get back part of his lost means,
the victim tries and tries again, coming
out poorer at every effort Sometimes, to
avoid suspicion, the monte man, who is
generally an honest-looking chap, will use
only plain white cards, with pencil marks
on the backs, and a common trick on the
part OF the swindler, to make the victim
anxious TO bet is to tear the corner of one
OF the cards little, so that the traveller
Is sure he can bet on turning up the figures
on that card. But alas for the uncertain
ty OF appearances. when he turns 1t up it
isn't the one that he saw marked in that
way. The game Is also sometimes urged
on by a confederate of the swindler who
occasionally bets and always wins. And
this is three-card monte"
If the traveller escapes the "monte'
men on the railroad trains he may next
be subjected to the wiles of the "bunkor
men in the city, The bunko men travel
in pairs, usually, and the stranger coming
from thedepot, or wandering on the streets,
is spotted" by these rascas One of
them in passing the stranger suddenly
looks up, smiles. puts out his hand and ex-
claims: Why, Mr. Brown how are your
When did you come in from kalamazoo!"
You are mistaken, guess, SIR" replies
the stranger: my name is Smith, and |
live in Oshkosh" Then the confidence
man-called a roper-in" or bunko-
| steerer'-apologizes for his mistake, and,
dropping back, informs his handy con-
| federate Of the mans name and place of
| abode. The confederate Immediately
hastens up the other side of the street and
shortly afterward meets the stranger and
greets him with ahearty shake of the hand,
and the exclamation of I" How do you do,
Mr.. Smith How are the folks at Oshkosh: :"
MIR. Smith is at a loss, and doesn't re-
member" the accoster, but the roper-in"
says his name is Jones, or something, and
that he is well acquainted with some man
| in Oshkosh. and generally asks his man
| to step in and take drink. The victim
is then informed by the roper-in that he,
| the latter, has come to town to get the
money on a lottery ticket which he has
drawn, and Is requested to step around to
certain number in some street while the
| lucky possessor of the winning ticket
which is the headquarters of the bunko
man and is known "a a "bunko hell, a
| polite clerk hands over the money-$50 or
| $l00, or other sum rs the case may be-
and is told that drawings are momentarily
taking place. The victim is urged TO in
vest and the chances are made to look so
| favorable that he is generally entrapped.
| He buys ticket for some small amount.
| 1t wins, and he is told that by the rules Of
| the game he must represent the amount
drawn by buying another ticket of u larger
| number before he can get the first ticket
cashed. He puts up the required amount,
draws again and again he Is required TO
represent" and by this representation"
| business IL led on, winning at every step,
| until his last dollar - or "pile," "a the
gamblers call it's at stake, when by an
unlucky o. turn of the wheel he loses for
once and the bunko men win for once
win all. BY this time the victim begins
10 find out with whom he is dealing and is
glad to get away from the place with his
skin whole. This Is bunko."
Though exposed daily in the metropoll.
tan press these tricks of swindlers con
| tinue to flourish and their victims are
numbered by the thousands. Where one
victim tells Of his foolish adventure fifty,
through pride, keep II TO themselves. The
| thieving swindlers prosper at their nefari-
Gus calling, dress well, live high and sup.
port half the bad houses of the cities.
People travelling should be very wary Of
making new acquaintance, and when
they see any trickery going on should
steer clear of II all. After all 1t is mans
| own fault If he loses money In the ways
described above, for while he may sbe led
| TO think there IL chance TO make money
| by betting ON monte" cards, or buying
"bunkO" lottery tickets, ii is his own
| fault II he invests in them.
Much has been done, especially by the
| press, to suppress the swindles spoken of.
| People have been warned to avoid them,
and the authorities urged TO punish the
criminals. But money is potent and the
swindlers are quite willing to bride con-
| ductors, brakemen, officers and policemen
TO avoid serious mOlestation. This Is
called an ante-up" fprofits. There are,
| be IL said to their praise, many honorable
| railroad conductors running trains out
from Chicago who are above selling their
passengers 10 rogues, and to whom the
monte" men have no affinity The po-
lice authorities OF Chicago have the power
to crush out the "bunko" men, and II Is
to be hoped that il will not be long before
they will kick this class from the city AZ
etiectually rs some railroad authorities
have kicked the monte" men from their
trainS Il ,.,oa Ja,,pHxI