Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-07-24
THE aPOLICYn LOTTERY.
How ana sports Rave Been sWind.
ling n UnwaFy of the Black
Haee-Tne Gang should be Made
90 Close b Lottery.

WV % wv eanOf Dut ~ was OlOhCN NY W
the grand juries Of the Criminal Court. It
was q money-making concern for the
proprietors, who ran the thing to suit
themselves and played a head Twin,
tail you lose" game. Policy went under,
much to the regret Of the proprietors of
the game who needed small change for
divers purposes, and to the regret also of
fortnne-seeking whites and negroes, who
always gamble, the negro race being like
unto many members Of the white race,
and desiring to live without doing much
work. They could see in policy" the
development of the idea. " put down a
quarter and take up FIVE dollars" Every.
body, including the police authorities,
believed policy" t. have been played
out in Memphis; but the gambling boys
would not let the game rest 10 its a
II had to be revived because times we're
getting dull and money was getting
scArce. Without money how could the
sport" splurge in hacks with vile women
at night, live high at, hotels and restau.
rants, indulge in a fast life generally, or
the gambling house "capper" who mad
been in the habit of lying in wait at
hotels, depots, saloons and other places
for the unwary stranger and steering"
him up against a brace game Of faro, o
policy lottery game or other nefarious
games in full blast on Monroe street and
vicinity as we'll as at other portions of
the city. Summer time is Ay-time with
sports; the gilded dens are deserted, aud
the boys have to squat around on the
cnrbing AID ponder over times past.
There are several faro banks in the city
where what is know as a square" game
is played, and there are several places
where the brace or robbing game is
carried on.
The unfortunate sporting men be
ing out Of employment, engaged in pol
icy lotteries, so as to make a few dollars
out of the poor African and innocent
Caucasian.
On Second street, between Union and
Gayoso, on the West side Of the street
adjoining the lumber yard, a sporting
man opened up a policy lottery game.
Ga the same street, opposite the post
Office, a sporting mar had another con-
Germ Of Ike character, and on the
anne street, near the corner of Monroe,
another man had q third concern. The
affair was kept quite private; doors were
closed, and only a few ticket. holders
we're permitted to be present at the draw
ings, which drawings we're presided over
by the sports. The glass wheel which
contained the india.rubber tubes inclos.
ing the numbers. revolved several times 8
day, as many as five drawings being
often had daily, and just SO many times
were the victims swindled, the drawingl
being controlled by the sports. The
rooms where this game was kept going
we're kept dark; q blanket or piece Of
carpet was hung up between the audi
ence and the Teller who ran the wheel
r and the chap who in a whispering voice
announced to the gaping crowd who helC
their tickets in their hands what number
were drawn from the wheel.
When the police raided the dens las
| evening CONSERVATION reigned in sport
! ing circles. Negroes and whites tum
bled out Of the dens at the sight of thu
: police, and tc day they hold the purchase
tickets as collateral for the money in
: vested with no hope of ever realizing
| the original amount so invested il
the swindle. One sports establish
ment was closed when the police ap
peared, he having got wind Of the pro
posed raid in advance, and like a gool
E general, he retired to his base Of opera
tons, within the protecting walls of {
? n%eighboring gambling fort. The police
we're more fortunate lower down on the
. street, near Union, aad succeeded 10
capturing the wheels while in operation
q and in arresting the fakirs. The gen
tlemanly proprietor3 Of the games were
. invited to step up to the st%atien.house
. which invitation they accepted, and BY
request they each put up fifty dollars rs
a forfeit for appearance before the Re
, corder this morning. The law provide.
for the destruction Of all gaming nipple
ments captured by the authorities il
gaming houses; so the kits" of tool
i. will probably be destroyed.
One OF the wheels Of fortune wa o
elegant manufacture, but the other tw
we're made in plain style in this city
We roget that the home manufactures
article did not come up in quality ant
style to its Eastern made pattern. W.
+ believe in supporting home mauufae
e lures and encouraging them, but We
have to honestly herald the failure o
home institutions in manufacturer,
vol;oy lottarv whaala