The Evening critic., 1882-10-25
PLAYING POLICY.
A Hold ana Shrewd scheme 10 Skin
the Policy GRme-IsOw 10 was 90 be
worked aud WHY 10 Failed.

worked aud Why 10 Failed.
conspiracy, as dcop OF the kind as over
was concoctcd by the mind OF man, and which
II successful would have involved an almost
fabulous sum OF money, has boon gradually
and carefully worked up In tho midst OF us
with shrowdncss almost unbelievable, and
would have eliminated during this woek had
not the branch OF tho schome In Now York
been suspected, which caused temporary
abandonment OF It.
For Some Time Past the Game OF
POLICY,
not unlike the ordinary lottery, but conducted
on n scale OF much greater magnitude In the
larger cities and backed by some OF the most
noted capitalists OF the country, has had full
sway, particularly In New York city, averag.
ing n daily use OF funds running up Into the
hundreds OF thousands, sometimes as high as
millions. Naturally men who saw It's daily
workings began to ponder II some device
could not be planned by which an advantage
could be had and large fortunes secured. II
was learned that Immediately upon tho draw.
ing, which is secretly done, the numbers
wero telegraphed to distant cities having
shops under tho management Of this man.
moth company and that about ten to twelve
minutes elapsed thereafter before they were
communicated 10 the hundreds OF onlcos In
New York. Tickets being purchnsablo up to
tho time OF announcement OF tho drawing at
these various local branch shops, II was
thought that
The winning Numbers
could be received at some near city and tele.
graphed back before tho New York shops could
learn the result, and thus the scoop DO accom-
pllshcd. IL required quick work. Telegraphic
and telephone communications had TO be pro-
cured at any cost, and men wero TO be station.
cd at or noar each policy oillco 30 that on re-
ceipt OF tho telegram the telephones wero to
bo brought Into roquisition, and each man,
who was to be.well supplied with money, noti-
ned, 80 that the large purchases and bets could
be erected. To this end combination was
formed, and Washington determined upon as
the seat OF action.
One OF the shrewdcst workers OF Now York,
renowned for his daring exploits, was chosen
and sent here TO perfect all prellminarios. He
arrived some weeks since, keeping indoors as
much as possible during the day TO avoid recog-
milton from any source, and commenced ope.
rations. His first step was to visit tho various
telegraph ofnces and look into the financial
standing OF each operator. Having obtained
Information that n certain employe OF one Of
the companies was deeply involved In debt, no
selected him as the victim. by some means
an acquaintanceshlp was struck up, and by
A Lavish Expenditure of Money,
and frequent loans to the telegraphist, an in.
timacy was established which warranted
disclosure Of the scheme, with an offer OF
$1,000 If he woul1 lend his aid. Tho young
man, bowlldered by q proffer OF 30 much
money, and worried by his numerous creditors,
having been assured that there would be no
divulgenco OF his participation under any cir
cumstances willingly accepted the proposition.
Having progressed thus far successfully, he
informed his associates, who were to put oyory-
thing In readiness in New York. There being
80 many moro intricaces TO overcome In that
city, such rs employment Of Trustworthy mon
and securing use of telephones nearest the
places of business TO be worked,
Suspicion was Aroused
that some great project was about to bo con-
summated, and the detectives began 70 ferret
It out. This necessitated extra precautionary
measures by the Now York parties, which
were adopted, but, by some meous unknown,
n clew of some kind as to the men Interested
was gotten at and they watched. Thus 1t
stands. Tho scheme has not been forsaken,
hpf ha yxvf ha urfI a laNT
reports OF It's achievement.
similar piece OF strategy was successfully
put through In one of the large Western cities
a few years since, with n gain of many thou
sands of dollars TO the combination.