New-York tribune., 1876-07-01
THE GAHBLING or THE POOR.

PREVALENCE OF POLICY PLAYGSG--METToDs AND
history OF TIus swINDIE THE PRINCIPAL
DEALERS.
Policy gambling, which has become so eX-
teusiye in this city that hundreds Of deaers-l9l o
whom are known the pOlice-afe engaged III H. S s'''
carried on with entire immunity The practice OF some
OF the captains OF police has been to s'hd one oI tho
men dressed IN citizens clothes 10 the fepUed poh'y
dealers. the officer 10 purchase a ticket and then
arrest the man who sold il. This system bad its
serious drawbacks The MAGISTRATE before whom the
dealer was brought told the officer that IN bis ennrh
II was a small piece OF business for member 90 tho
notice force to be engaged in The dealer often ae
10 detect the detective either through freGdS IN
formation or bv his own observation The mast dis
couracing drawback is the late order orhddng ponce
officers TO enter public place for ho pup'so %, making
Nh arrest in citizens clothes Another system as been
lately adopted in hopes OF breaking up tL pe'nicious
practice of gambling. Private persons have been Gu
gagged by the captains ofocc to purchase policy tickets
and Lcn make cOmrlan but owing ;o ine lacf {" tuhds
to pay these persons for Ecir services The system mas
not been pushed with much vgor. It's hoped by the
contains that an appropriation will be made from tie
police fund for this purpose.
Policy gambling invented by petty dealers III o'-
terry tickets TO the por IL Is ionoed ON 'hc
regular drawings of lotteries made in other states ana
the yender bmself the banker For instance ""' oi
~ pumbers mt in the lottery wheel. u drawn ont
The hO Olt ol lltlI lIicd-ci
TO purchase an expensive ticket, 10 dealer IN policy
and he him ten twenty cents dollar for the scale
cau be enlarged or reduced at plcasure) against hVe
times the amount that any other specihed nuhper
viii be among those drawn. The banker taxes the "HeF
notes it on his book and gives the player memorandum
81 the bet upon slip Of paper until tie drawing OF the
lottery upon which rests the decision OF The wager
Ilrs,, iits Of yaror called Iolioy o'ipS" htae
chosen number comes out and the dealer Is MT ne
loses the amount OF the wager minus INC amount pau
for the slip which the bet Of the player The banker
holds the eakes," and there are six chances 70 one
against the player. II more sanSuihe In MS uispoao
tho paver wishes 10 take greater risk in the hopo OF
oater reurn ne bets ls cents or his dollars that No
will NOT only be among those drawn, but VIII oe in Ger
tain station say. the third, fourth or last one drawn
from the wheel By this system the chances against Tue
paycr are enhanced immensely and the banker promises
a return o. 90 FOR IL the PLAYER wins This mode "l
cou,blng "a called plaving station numbers because
fa;on i'm The slip Is indicated, aud the system first
mentioned is called playing day NUMBERS Dcchu5t u
is sufficient FOR the player u ms hpaS have e inySn,
81 'horsrs'' eies" .'wirs," "sridie-," and eros;
gigs" but these elaborate Combinations ana "on'
ecclipy much space for description -. ,..,. g.,
Prfylous 10 l-32 this kind OF gambling was little ~
vogue but lottery tickets were bought laigtN Wnt'
The L slature 6f e32 abolished lotteries IN tMs stnt
policy PLAYING was rapidly extended, and was sezrd
up0n with ayidity both by bankers and players 10 V1
tie nenaitcs Of the statute against lotteries Among inc
men who bccaiae most notorious in TINS business were
Baker Judah Wrbher, Cole, Petty ana IIe fii"p,s T
brothrrs the most extensive dealers IL the cry Inc
Immense profits and the rapdly accunuating forum,
which these dealers were securing "r'use INC C'pi.S
Of bC ode Of spccula,0Ts. Lntcrd by me iacliilrs
which policy playing offered FOR tie qualification OF theiI
pa.sion for gambling, players became lnthtnalei
aud were dra into the net and at DE present o u
embraces within lis fatal ihnncncts IN addition 10 tpn
sands of the poor white population, hcaiN au VA tc r nu
grOes in the city. Tic results are readily perceived he
deludcd victims unable TO satisfy ther desirc Ior g9
hing from their legitimate eainlngs Defh phI,einx
from their employers. step by etcp they hk ueeIcV
ana DEEPER in crime and arc ruined, while me promo,
tcrs Of their guilt appear III courts hu MAINTAIN navy Gle
to defend and officials 10 protect then