Daily Kennebec journal., 1880-12-06
A GAMBLERS LuCk.
j. II. GHEENE's CAREER: OF ADVENTURE.
WEALTH AND PENUHY.

Over thirty years ago Jonathan IL. CIR
eene was known as one of the most expert
gamblers in the country He was familiar
with all the arts calculated 10 deceive even
the most skillful. and had the faculty OF
winning money wherever he Went. Poss-
essed of u fair education. he supplied what
was deficient by natural shrewdness, quick
ened by rough knocks from heartless
world, and he passed rs man OF learning.
His skill with cards was almost phenome-
nal, and in the fifteen years he devoted to
gambling he handled hundreds of thous-
ands of dollars. He came in contact with
the most noted Professionals of his day;
he visited all the princpal cities OF the
Union, passing rs a man of means. when
he spent like Prince. and dressed IN the
most fashionable attire his society was
courted, and he was popular with all
whom he met. To-day he lives in Il small
house in the lower palt of the city, when
is not even supplied with the nccessaries
of life, with Il family of seven children
looking to him for support. and destitute
Of the means of supplying them. In tact
Jonathan Greene. who once had bank
account which could he reckoned by thous-
ands. is supplicant for charity. His ftmi-
lv have barely the means to keep BODY
and soule together. In personal appear
ance. Greene is striking. Tall and com
pactlv built. with an eye but little dimm-
ed by his 20 years of life. a rich. melodi-
ous voice and bearing that tells one who
has IN times gone by associated with those
who were gentlemen in bearing. at least.
The career of Greene has been re-
markable one. First he acquired repu-
tation as a professional. and then he pc
! came known as one of the most ardent ad-
vocates of the laws enacted in Pcnnsylva-
mia. New York. Maryland and Ohio to
make gambling a criminal ofiensc lie
vas born at Marietta. Ohio, in July. 1873,
| in what was known as the Campus Mar
tius. a stockade built by the colony that
| had emigrated to Marietta county. Ills
father emigrated there with his family of
six children. four others being born there.
of which Jonathan was the youngest.
his father had been soldier in the Reyo-
luton and was an architect and builder.
| II was he who drew the plans and built
the Blennerhassett Mansion, twelve miles
below the Mnskingum river in Virginia.
occupied by the man so intimately asso-
ciated with Aaron Burr, whose intimacy
with his wife in after years gave rise To
suit that scandalized society. The family
soon after moved into the Territory OF In
diana. and here. when he was six years OF
ape, his mother died. 'On her death bed'
said he "she asked mo never TO drink IN
toxjcatine liquors. gave her my word.
and in n f.w minutes she died, with her
hand upon nv head and blessing on her
lips. That pledge have never broken.
And he involmtarily brushed a tear from
his eve. From that time until he was lG
years of age he became wanderer ms
associates being Of the Indian tribes that
then held possession ot the western
country. the principal ones being the
Cherokee. Choctaw and Greeks, most oi
the time being in the Red river aud cut
ting way through solid rats TO get there.
and II was while leading this wild. care
less life that he acquired his taste for gam :
bling. and on returning to his old home
in 1881. then grown to respectable proper
tions he launched forth into the current
that has carried 40 many down to ruin.
But success met him at every point.
and he soon became looked upon as gam
bier from whom it was an honor to win a
stake. He could win the cards By the
hacks almost - readily as by the face :
he was the first man to deal the cards
from the bottom OF the back, and be was
the inventor of four Of the advantage
boxes used in faro. Following this up
successfully tor twelve years. his winnings
we're naturally large. and his operations
extended 10 all the principal cities Of the
United States. Coming TO Philadelphia
in 1886 he met party of well-known
gamblers among whom were Pendlet0n
ct Washington. Campbell Of Baltimore
aud Hopkins of New York, all experts.
He PLAYED with them three consecutive
ldays. and walked out Of the saloon at Sixth
and Chestnut streets richer by $50. .0OC
than when he entered. In 1917 he re.
nonnced the gambling table and decided
to lead a more honorable life. Beginning
in this city, he started on lecturfng tour
and went to Harrisburg, where after q
heavy outlay OF money and much time. he
had passed the Gaming laws now ON the
statute books On the rostrum he exposed
ty,o fr;cta r,f oaynh1iuC and startled his