Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-01-28


The swindling game known as ''Three Card
Monte" was first introduced here during the Gen.
tennfal year uS76), and many q visitor to the
Capitol at that time was invited to witness "the
unveiling Of the monument at Arlington" and
when he reached the Virginia shore became the
victim OF sharpera For at least five years the
players here were so busy In plying their business
that for much of the time two row boats were kept
continually employed In ferrytng the victims
across the river, where they met the bogus "Ken-
lucky drover.n Besides the resident "mob," or
york and om the Western ea
here-one from Colorado, it is said,
never passing southwark or westward
usually making a heavy haul during their stay
here The highest trick" made here Is said to
years ago and lost $3.50 The travelling ''nobs"
OF monte men sometimes make large hauls, and it
Is said that two months ago prominent New
York tobacco merchant contributed $1,000 to the
Golfers of the western combination.
The following Is the method generally employed
by these sharpers: The hotel registers are care
July watched and victim selected. One OF the
gang then manages to approach him and calls him
by some other name than the one registered. The
- / am from -" naming the town WI.
This information obtained, the questioner goes to
another OF the gang-the ''steerer'-and gives Inn
the name of the victim, his place Of residence, &C.
The 'steerer' always carries a commercial bank
note reporter and turning to the name of the town
soon has the names OF the bank officers and
some OF the business men OF the town at his
tongues end. The ''steerer' will then meet the
victim and step up, saying: "Why, how do you do,
Mr.. -" QISing the correct nancy The victim
usually replies: ''YOu' have the advantage of me,
sir, and the 'steeTer replies that he is relative OF
the town, but he mad rot been there for some
years Gradually tue victim, thinking that the
'steerer" is stranger like himself, and finding
his company agreeable, falls into the trap and
agrees to see the sights in company with his newly
made Acquaintance: Reaching Arlington. the
alleged Kentucky drover" appears and tells how
taken q Baltimore q f
tie; how he TOOK walk down Baltimore street.
where he saw the picture OF a fat woman painted
on rag, with admission 10 cts" and paying his
money, went in; how there was nothing in the
snow except some monkeys and snakes Just Ike
he had seen in the eircuses In cid kaintuck. and
he told the man he Was swindled, for he didn't see
any fat woman; how the Snowman said the fat
woman was eating her dinner, and ii he would go
In an adjoining room he would see them playing
.'chuck-a-luck;" and finally how, while there, he
had been s"indled out of 500. The "steerer"
a: Dd they Rex your posket3 and the bogus
he proceeds to explain that they played with cards
and he lost slGO. He then said they
they had given him some OF the cards and
when he got back old Kantuck" he was"going
TO slick Sam Hawkins clean outer his horse and
saddle" The drover then produces four cards
pictured respectively with a star, shield, eagle,
and girl with hoop, and spreads them out, and
they play for fun, the steerer" being able to pick
out the picture girl card each time For one corner
Is slightly crimped The stranger sees the trick
ana bet is proposed with him, and while
shuhied out OF the picture card and the
corner OF another turned. and of course the
stranger loses. AT this juncture the bogus police
oncer, or ''Scarer,' appears and grabs the
''stecrern and victim, telling them that he has
caught them gambling, and the fine Is $500 and
SIX months in Jail. After the drOver has had an
opportunity to get out OF the way with the money,
the steerer' and victim are allowed to escape.
This This. is the usual style OF the game in open
weather, but when they are operating
In town the 'steerer" represents himself to be the
agent OF some great tea company, and that he has
suggests that the stranger shall go with him to his
friends house, and take some samples. ThereupOn
they go to restaurant and find the chest has not
arrived but that it will b. there shortly, and they
SIT down to wait awhile. The Kentucky drover
then appears, the victim sbites" and bets, the
droVer WiHS the blrkeeper grabs the ''steerer'and
victim and the drover disappears with the money.
Inc TACT that no losses have been reported for
month or so in this city would indicate that
neither the travelling nor the local combinations
nave Deen at work here recently, whether from
want or victims or because OF the recent proSecu-
tlon OF some OF the swinders here is not known.