Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-08-31
VOL. L. NEW SERIES. VOL. XIII.

was called as a witness to establish the fact
| of Harrisons death.
The Oldest of the gambling fraternity, and
a man who was possessed of property and
| with few enemies, was shell" Burrell, who
kept a gambling house in the Bowery. Most
| of his fortune was made by the roulette
wheel. His appearance was peculiar as he
| was round-shouldered and SIX feet IN height.
His manners were pleasing and he was always
ready to stake his last dollar at roulette. On
one occasion, when asked what the limit of
the bets was, replied .Bet all you've got
and if that isn't enough, get on the table and
I'll turn for you. But | must be allowed to
| put my own value on you.
John l. Cassiday, who came from Cincin-
natl, was another prominent gambler. He
claimed, perhaps with reason, to be by birth
and education gentleman. He was a man
| of fine address, and of undoubted literary
ability. For lcng time he wrote letters for
| The Spirit Of the Times, over the signature of
''Larkin." Becoming fascinated with play,
Cassidy gambled heavily and continuously.
But he was never a cheat or blackguard. He
| died in poverty, leaving family, reared IN
| luxury, dependent upon a relation for the
necessaries of life.
Recent years have brought forward a herd
of low and brutal thieves, who, when arrest
ed seek to disguise their real character by
saying that they are sporting men" John
Morrissey, although perhaps not intending
to curse New York city with gang OF VII
lains, has been the direct cause of the emf
grafton of band of men of the worst clarac-
ter from Troy to New York. Hither they
came after Morrisseys successful prize fight
with Yankee Sullivan. Among the most
odious of these, and best known to the po-
| lice were Blacksmith Dan," Edgar McCor-
mick, big Mike" Murray (at whose house
unfortunate Murphy shot himself on Friday,
States prison man, Charles Vosburg and
"Wally" Patrick. Morrissey and his part
| ners Reed and Spencer, are the only gam
blers, however, who openly defy the law, and
who carry on in broad daylight pool-selling,
faro banks, roulette, and all other games that
allure and defraud the unwary. After all the
wealth that Morrissey has at different times
possessed, should his creditors foreclose the
mortgages on his property in Saratoga, it is
doubtful if he would have $4,000. But
Spencer is rich. He is a man of some edu-
tion, and quiet and unobtrusive manners.
He will never die poor, if his reputation
among fellow-gamblers as a saving, avariclous
man is founded on fact.
Reed, if brought to the auction block,
would be ruined. Yet he owns several race
horses. His adventures have been many and
varied. Because he cannot trust himself he
does not drink. Reed is the man who killed
Mccullough in New Orleans few years ago.
He was sentenced TO death, but the COM
manding general pardoned him because OF
the intercession of the late Andrew h. Butler,
a felow-gambler, and the father of George
H. Butler.
Charles Ransom is now poor, and gains a
precarious living carrying ON a .'skin' game
IN West Twenty-fifth street. Ransom was
once partner of John Harrison. His fond
ness for fast horses and his dissipated tastes,
wasted his once large fortune.
Charles Abel is of New England stock. He
keeps gambling house with one Stokes III
Ann street, and has q branch at Newport
At the branch house, woodcock suppers at
tract the ''angels'' (as inexperienced young
men with money are called by the gamblers,
who after debauch lose large sums to the
bank. For his Newport property Abel PAID
much more than it was worth, hoping, 1t Is
said, to attract one rich young man IN par
ticular His success is not yet known.
James Thomas is also n native of New Eng
land He is supposed to have some property
now, although he has lost largely in stock
speculations John Petre from Paterson, N.
j., firm friend of Senator Morrissey, accu-
mulated 100000 during the war, but he has
recently been forced to part with fine farm
in Ramapo Valley, n. J.
John F. Chamberlain came TO this city
from the West in company with Price
McGrath. He formed an alliance with John
Morrissey who was then carrying on a gam
bling house at No. 5 West Twenty fifth street.
He Kept French cook and served almost
unequaled dinners and suppers to entrap the
epicure and the politician. Richard Schell,
J. Fisk, jr, "Gunny" Bedford, William NJ.
Tweed, Superintendent kelso, William Hen
nessey Cook, and other well-known men
were claimed as his friends. 1t was through
their influence that he was enabled to carry
on the gambling business for ten years IN
molested by the police. 1t is supposed that
Chamberlain has won, altogether, Sl.oOO,OOO,
but he bought stud of horses thinking this
would bring him in contact with persons
whose social recognition he coveted. The
scheme did not succeed, and he then bought
a farm near Long Branch, in Monmouth
county, n. ]. Ill-luck soon began to attend
Chamberlain. In spite of the snapper
roulette and many mechanical devices for
cheating, he has failed utterly. unless, as is
supposed by some, his brother holds his
property to defraud the creditors.
Most of the 'banco men," ''match-stuff
ers." pocket-book droppers, and petty high
waymen are broken-down gamblers, who
during the war, promenaded Broadway in
fine attire, and dined supmtuously every day.