National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-02-22
A WARNING TO GREEDY sPECULATOEs.
AN INNOCENT ROBBED oE. s4Oo.
The MODUs OPERANDI OF sHARPERs.
Arrest of q Set of the SmOOth-tOBgued
Operators, and Capture OF Their
Implements-DeseriP Ofthe
Novel Games-NO Chance to
Win, but One Hun.
dred to Lose.

Men resort 10 all manner VI metub u ODbhAH
money. Many, among whom may be elassed
most of those in the poorer walks Of life, seek
the honorable way to procure q livelihood, and
try to accumulate q sufficiency upon which to
support themselves by honest industry and
steady application. Such secure the respect Of
the community, and are ever looked upon as good
citizens. If adversely does overtake them, by
business reverses other unlookedfor Fisltations
they find their feIIoW-man If able, willing to ex-
tend the helping hand, and those BY the needs Of
their own situation prevented from rendering
substantial assistance ever ready to aid where
good words and strong Endorsement viii avail.
There is, however, another class OF men not too
lazy to work, but who prefer obtaining susie
nance and dress at the expense Of those more
honorable. This number might we'll be classihed
under several heads, but for this occasion only
one is necessary to enumerate-the sporting man
who lives by games Of chance, possessing his
hundreds To-Day and tomorrow being beggar.
Among those In this category are men who would
adorn more worthy positions, but whe have be-
come slaves to the passion and cannot shake
loose The shackles that the excitement fastens
upon them.
Although they pursue q calling that is con-
demned by the public and regarded as degrading
to the morals Of mankind generally, still among
them can be picked out men not lost to decency
and respect and who in their conduct, generosity,
and humanity will put to shame many OF those
who are sticklers for honor and virtue, but who,
when they believe themselves unperceiVed, will
perform deeds that the gambler would scorH TO
commit. They, too, have their leper fastened
and condemn ss themselves a certain class which
they feel brings them into greater disrepute and
disgrace. These are
THE BUNCo PLAYERS,
men decked out in the tip Of fashion, genteeI and
gentlemanly in appearance, OutWardly bearing
the stamp of honor and in their actions and de-
pertinent indicating that they have received a
good education and been raised in refined society.
But It is their pursuit that brands them as men
lacking all principle, and, leech-like, ready to
pounce upon victim wherever found, and draw
VI intn
street minus even penny, with no heart or care
as to what may befall him.
As this game is built upon fraud, consummate
robbery and no chance in the world for the player
to obtain dollar in return Of the money he may
invest, perhaps an explanation OF the manner 10
Into VenturiDg with It will prove interesting If not
beneficial to this community, more especially
since, on Wednesday last,
GAME WAS STARTED IN THIS CITY
and one man taken in and robbed. The timely
interference Of the authorities through Detec-
tives McElfresh and Sargent, secured the man
his money and broke up the game. To properly
who, IN the gamblers parlance, are styled
''stool- pigeons" and "steerers the proprietor of
the establishment generally being termed 1.-THE
cashier" They bring their traps and come into o
city town and look out for q suitable locality to
commence operations. lfpOssible, room is OBJ
tanned on a or ss-street, near the main thorough
fare, the object Of which will be obvious to the
reader ere he finishes the perHsal Of this article.
This room is fitted up as an Office. Desks, q
eOIb, leOBeIe anu OIucE phIhpu6T0dllh 10
give it the appearance Of place Of business are
put in.
with their money, and in fitting up the offices
have made them as complete as could be sug-
gested, and as comfortable as possible. Sofas
and lounges are INDUCED in, easy chairs for the
visitors procured, and nothing forgotten that
would be likely to invite custom. The cashier,
with four or lve young men, known as clerks,
occupy these apartments, and when q customer
pays a visit ali are industriousIy engaged; but
when left to themselves indulge in games OF
draw poker, interpreting the playing with drinks
Of whisky.
THE "sTEERERs" ARE PLACED ON THE STREETS;
to them belong the duty OF waylaying the player
and steering him to the den, which is known as an
insurance office to the outer world, but to the
6uPe as policy shop Thsss higaaWsynen are
them any amount Of impudence and assurance.
They drop in at the principal hotels or pick their
man on the sidewalk, and boldly approaching,
say, "Ah, Mr.. -. calling him perhaps Jones
or BROWN didn't meet you in st. LOuis," Tor
some other place.) The man accosted very nat
(giTiDg his name;) belong in Chicago" The
pigeon talks with him few minutes longer and
then departs. He hastens back to the bunce-
room and says Mr. Smith is at hotel: he is
from Chicago. Up jumps steerer No. 2, and away
he hBsteDs TO the hotel. He meets Smith, calls
tbeY first met They 90 out for a walk. II the
aequaintapceship is formed on the street It is al
ways near the sfhce. While engaged in CONVEX
satiOn the steerer draws ticket from his pocket
and says,
81 HAVE WON A PRIZE IN A LOTTERY,
and the Ofnce is in this vicinity All, there It is
pointing TO sign. Walk over with me until
Innocence, styled 'the sucker" accompanies
him, and as they are approaching the room, the
pigeon gives q signal to warn those inside OF his
coming. Then the pOker.plSyers and whisky
guEZlers bounce 10 their Stations and are the
most sssiduOus Of clerks. The steerer and his
partner come in, and both are apparently stran-
ee,s to the inmates Of the room. They step to the
counter, and are met by the cashier with polite
salutation. The steerer throws down his ticket,
remarkinE, 81 believe that has won prize" to
which the cashier replies, "Yes that entities you
to dollars" He pays the money and the two
men turn to depart, when he calls them back and
says, "Here are two coupons which belong to you,
in another drawing to take place next week."
The steerer says these are valueless, because he
is going away and cannot use them. Then the
cashier states that they have authority to give
a special drawing, which meets the appreciation
of the steerer. He throws o coupon to his friend
that he met in the street and bids him try his
luck.
The cashier produces the implements. which
consists Of heavy, double pastebOard card, about
two feet long and one and one-half feet wide. On
this square blocks containing numbers-a
blank and one star-the numbers pay from 81 to
to q, 900, IS indicated on the number that wins
when you win. The coupons can be placed on
any number you may select but must be repre-
sented by q dollar in addition. They then pre-
sent stock Of cards containing numbers and
which drawing is made, and If the card chosen
corresponds with the number on which the coupon
ana money nave Deen piacet, Inen the player
wins; If not, by paying second dollar he obtains
another trial, and SO on many TRIALS as dollars
he possesses, provided he does not draw the card
on winch is imprinted the star; when that Is done,
then the bank becomes the winner, and
THE DRAWING CLOSES.
The steerer and his victim each pay their dollar,
place the tickets and draw, but tall to win. The
money Is renewed and renewed, but not successful
is the drawing; still 1t remains and the bank don't
win. If the victim has considerable money It is
policy to encourage him, and after playing little
while smother steerer will rush in, throw down his
pays it. Tepyng gS Quietly but sucenty ioId SF
the victim to overhear, Well the lottery is CATCH
ing IL today" This encourages innocence, and
he is about cleaned out, when he drawsth star,
and the cashier sweeps In money and coupon.
This, in brief, is an insight TO buneo. By 1t hun
dIets of men have been feeced, and probably
many more will meet the same experience, but It
is hoped this information will give q warming to
the citizens of this community, especially since
only last Saturday
A GAME WAS BROKEN UP IN THIS CITY
by those interchangeable detectives Sargent and
McElfresh. Five men, named Frank Nixon,
Henry Martin, VIM. II. Parsons, George Garter
and James Marshall cau1e here last wednesday,
secured place on Tenth street, between ID and
E streets northwest, and opened this game.
Their steerers got out, and on Friday afternoon
succeeded in getting in an unsuspecting stranger,
the manner above described robbed him OF about
$500. He complained at police headquarters, and
the two detectives named were intrusted with the
case, and Saturday arrested all the parties, and
with their paraphernRlia took them to the Central
ONCE. The complainant came in and recognised
them, but said that he could not remain In the
city 10 prosecute them, but would like TO get his
money back. This they refunded, and promising
TO leave the city, which they have since done,
they were dismissed, but the implements were
place, have added another TO the many good ser
vices they have rendered the community.