The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-10-03

Some two years ago was founded a
club in the vicinity of Astor Pace
] bearing very respectable name, the
originatOIs being a few young and
I wealthy Norih-GermAn merchants,
bankers and shIp-owuers. Ii numbers
now some sixty members, has first
class Teading-room and a well-supplied
bar. The initiation fee is $500, and
the annual dues over $3.50. New can
didates are admitted only upon recon-
mendsuon of five members. The two
upper stories Of the building are used
for games Of chance. Access to them
is guarded 10y far more strictly than
the hauuts of professional game-keep-
ers. In fact, only the initiated ones
know how TO reach the gaming tables.
Three of the latter are devoted to rou-
lette, and the three others to treRte-et
Quardhte (rouye e EOir From an
early hour IN The evening TO until day.
bresk these tables are surrounded by
the gambling members, and frequent
ly $1,000 greenbscks and certified
checks TO even larger amounts are
piled up on the roulette figures, or on
the mysterious figures of the Eoagc ct
noSr table. Every member may
HOLD THE BANK,
but for no longer period than
weeks time. Strangers may be intro
duced by members, but there is a COM
mittee who examine the strangers rs to
their tinarcial standing before they are
admitted TO the gaming rooms. Most
of the members are married men, and
it has been noticed that, while they
have sent their families 10 the fashion, !
able watering places at the beginning
of the warm season, they themselves |
have all along renamed in the city.
Square dealing was depended upon by |
every member of the club, and, until |
the strange episode which occurred |
quite recently in its history took place,
no one uttered any complaint.
Two ARlsToCR ATTIC GENTLEMEN.
About month ago there arrived |
from HsmbuTg two aTistocratic gentle |
men, who had registered on the steam
er as Count Wartensleben and Baron |
Werthern. Both gentlemen had pass
ports apparently issued 10y the Berlin
Ministry OF Foreign Affairs, and letters |
of Introduction TO rich North German |
bankers and merchants, some of whom |
belonged to the above mentioned club. |
They stated that they were engaged on
voyage round the world and would |
spend two or three months in New /
York. Count Wartensleben stated that |
be was the grandson of the famous |
Prussian General York Won MARTENS
leben. HIS history was not unknown |
in this city. He was known to have a |
very large fortune, and to spend it in |
the most eccentric way. In fact, Count |
WaTtensleben exhibited here letter OF |
credit for
TWENTY THOUSAND POUNDS.
Baron Werthern also showed plenty |
of money. To cut matters short, the |
two strangers were taken to the club,
when both of them played roulette and
rouge et n0ir, losing for several days.
Baron Werthern then suggested to the
managers of the club that sharper
might easily dupe them, the roulette
being one long discarded by gam blers
Of Europe and he also advised the use
of a peculiar kid of cards which
would prevent cheating IN the part of
the banker at the rOHge ct nOir table.
The suggestions were unexpectedly
acted upon, and on the following even
ing new roulettes and new cards were
used. Count artensleben and his
companion played h saviiy, aud lost,
perhaps, $4,000. Mkt evening the
Count proposed to take the bank, and
he was permitted to do so. There were
great many members there, and high
stakes were played for. This embold-
ened the gamblers, all of whom gath
cred around the roulette table over
which he presided. The stakes against
him were
TWENTY-oNE THOUSAND DOLLARS,
and he won. He won in the course of
the evening $500 more. Then he
proposed to give them satisfaction at |
the rouge ct nOir. They accepted his
offer, and he won an additional $l4,-
600. He left the place, promising to
take the bank again on the following |
evening. When the time arrived, nei-
Their he nor his friend made their ap-
pearance. They waited for him near
ly until midnight, when they LEFT,
shaking their heads. Next day IL was
ascertained that the two strangers had
iOib VIC ~ Who dlbCONOtCu ludb
the roulette at which the Count had
presided had been constructed most
ingegiously In such manner that the
banker could easily send the ball into
the upper or lower figure compart-
ments. The cards which he had set at
the rouge ct nOir table were found to be
FRAUDULENT,
there shsing more than one half black
cards. Worse than this, the certified
checks which he and his friend had
staked returned to the hapless gam
blers who bad won them, and promi-
nent stock broker. who had advanced
the Count so, 500. gives them up as a
dead loss. Cable dispatches to Berlin
elected the fact that the real Count
Wartensleben had never left the city.
-New York Mercury.