The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1882-10-20
A Sharper Skinned.


''skin" gambler was victimized out OF
$500 was related yesterday forenoon in
the saloon of John Fury, No. PA Federal
Street, Camden, where the woe-begone
victim landed almost penniless at twelve
o'clock in search of consolation and a
a drink. To gentlemen who sit in front
of the green-topped tables nightly and
take in greenhorns he is tolerably well
known. Rural dupes who have CHANGED
to meet him in New York or Philadel-
phia know him to their sorrow. His
name is Thaddeus Pratt, or more famil-
iarly 'sPoker Tad"
Philadelphia having proven rather a
poor pasture for the last two or three
months wherein victims came to gaze,
Mr.. Pratt fell into rather an impecunious
condition. He managed to retain his
diamond breastpin, however, and suit of
very elegant clothes of pronounced pat
tern, but his purs" was very
flat. He declared repeatedly that
Philadelphia was the '.meanest
town in the country for work, "
and when his funds reached the low ebb
of seventeen dollars Mr.. Pratt determined
to emigrate for some western cline,
where victims grew on roadside bushes.
Mr.. Pratt took portion of his seventeen
dollars, or, as he would more elegantly
phrase il, seventeen cases." and betoOk
him to the pool-room of Michigan &
Hughes, on SAMSON street, above Eighth.
He made an investment on a horse race.
He bought "Maid of Athol," and walked
into Eighth Street almost 5000 dollars
richer
Mr.. Pratt felt jubilant over his luck,
and, after taking sundry drinks, he went
to the Broad Street station and pur-
chased ticket for Pittsburgh. On the
trip westward his ''luck' ran high. He
got into the confidence of aclerical-look-
ing young man ut Altoona, and relieved
the young man of $50 at friendly game
of poker. In Pittsburgh an ancient
farmer, who thought he knew more
about cards than Mr.. Pratt, left his pock-
etbook with the latter, after learning
that four kings were slightly inferior to
four aces. The purse contained trifie
over $500. To avoid any unpleasant
complications, Mr.. Pratt purchased
ticket for MasSillon, on the Pittsburgh,
Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad. In
that thriving little town Mr.. Pratt was
fortunate. He formed the acquaintance
of a cigarette young-man, who, up to
the time he met the genial Pratt, was
possessed of very handsome gold watch
and chain and 5000 in cash. When Mr.
Pratt said 'ta-ta'' and started for the
railroad station, bound for Wooster, the
cigarette-young-man was watchless and
penniless. In Wooster, a sophomore
belonging to the University, who knew
more about Euclid than he did about the
geometrical possibilities of .'three card
monte" fell an easy victim to the tune
of S9O-the last remittance from low
ing father. These few windfalls gave
Mr.. Pratt an excellent start, and for a
week afterwards he made three or four
similar strokes. eventually swelling his
capital to about $3.50. Fort Wayne
proving poor field for successful oper-
atoms, Mr.. Pratt thought he would start
east again. He bought ticket for To-
ledo, on the Toledo. Wabash & Western
Railroad, in order to avoid meeting any
of the gentlemen who had swelled his
pocketbook, and who might possibly say
something rude. After leaving Toledo
for Pittsburgh without any particular
incident, Mr.. Pratt thought it about time
to look about for fresh victim. He
found one at Altoona, or at least he
thought he did. A tall, verdant looking
chap, with '.greeny" written on every
feature, entered the car and seated him
self beside Mr.. Pratt. ..Greeny"
Immediately opened a channel
or acquaintanceship by asking Mr..
Pratt what time the train would reach
Philadelphia. Mr.. Pratt told him, and
remarked that the crops. were looking
beautiful. Mr.. Verdant said they were,
and added that railroad riding was
''pesky bothersome." Mr.. Pratt agreed
with him, and proposed friendly game
of "keards' to while away the time.
Mr.. Greeny was willing, and deck
being produced by the gambler, the two
began at a game of "Old Sledge." On
the second hand MIR. Greeny remarked
that if he was playing poker he would
90 800 on his hand. Mr.. Pratt looked
at his own hand and said that he believed
that it was worth that, too, and backing
it up by producing the cash. The victim
covered it promptly, and then, throwing
down a trade dollar, said, "Just for luck |
I'll bet that win your money"
Mr.. Pratt at once threw down silver
dollar to take up the challenge. The
ring of the metal was great deal clearer
than that shown by Mr.. Verdant. 1t
attracted Mr.. Pratt's attention. He
picked up the coin and examined them.
'.Let us bet on our hands," said he, i'm
patiently. 'That coin of yours is no
good"
"Yes. it is" said Greeny. 'Tm willin'
to bet $500 it's good, an don't you for
get it."
Mr.. Pratt picked up the dollar and
examined it carefully. Itwas of dull
leaden color, and when thrown down
had no ''ring' whatever. Mr.. Pratt saw
a chance for n stake. .srll bet $500 it's
counterfeit coin, said he, bringing out
three 800 bills. ''All right" replied
Greeny, producing the same amount.
81 bet that the coin is good silver, and
will leave it to the conductor"
agreed" said Mr.. Pratt. and the
card stakes were added, making the
wager $500 each.
The coin was held by the gambler
until the conductor came through the
car. He was asked to decide the bet.
One contemptuous glance was given the
coin. without any close examination.
Its the worst ever saw" said he; IA
blind man couldn't get stuck on that"
'.Wait minute" said Greeny. quiet
ly, as Mr.. Pratt was about to gather up
the stakes. 'Just take another look,
won't you? Here's knife-cut into it."
The conductor smiled, but did as re-
quested. What was his establishment to
find that the coin was covered with a
thin coating of tinfoil. which had been