Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-04-22

RATORS GENERALLY ESCAPE ARREST.
The "bunco" game, by which Mr.. Charles
Francis Adams was swinded out Of nearly
$4,000 in checks, in Boston, about two weeks
ago, has been played in this city for several
years, but not SO constantly as the notorious
''three-card monte" game The ..bunco" men
never stop in one city more than a few days at
time, while the ''three-card monte" gang, which
our police have at last succeeded in breaking up.
has made this city their headquarters for years.
During and since the centennial year they have
almost daily fieeced strangers out of their money
and watches.
The game Of 'bunco" is played in many re-
spects like that of monte" but the men who
play 1t are, as rule, smarter, and look for
higher game than the monte" men. For the
latter reason they cannot stop in one place long
because they generally make 50 large haul and
cause such an alarm that they have to leave.
SEVERAL LARGE swINDLEs
by this game have been perpetrated In this city,
sometimes checks for large amounts being won
by the gang, but as they stay only few days
and are very expert in Disgusting themselves,
they have always succeeded in getting away
safe. The game is worked generally by three
men, and in the following manner: When they
arrive In city, they go to houses in quiet and
fashionable neighbOrhoods and rent parlors, pay
ing the rent in advance. They represent that
they are newspaper correspondents or some
thing OF the sort, and have to do a great deal Of
writing both day and night for which purpose
they have large table placed in the middle of
the room. They then hang up placards on the
wall. denoting their assumed business and fill
the table with stationery, giving the room an
air OF business. They repeat their operation in
several neighborhoods, after getting rooms in
hotels.
The ''capper." who is always provided with q
list of names Of presidents and cashiers of banks
In all the principal cities goes out generally
around the hotels or public buildings, and So
iects q stranger who he thinks has a large
amount Of money, and addresses him by some
name, and receives the reply: you are mistaken,
apologies, and having the gent eman's name,
he examines the hotel registers by which means
he generally succeeds in getting the strangers
full address. Then consulting his list Of bank
officers. he learns the name of those of the prin-
cipal banks in the city in which the intended
victim lives. and communicates the gentleman's
other Of the gang. who very Familiarity ad-
dresses the same gentleman by his right name
IN The Tolls.
OF course the stranger tells the young man he
don't recognize him. The young man answers
that he knowsthe gentleman very we'll BY seeing
him in -, where his (the young man's)
father or uncle is president of the bank.
The gentleman generally recognizes the name
of the young mans father, and is happy to meet
the son of an old friend. They enter into con-
versation. and agree to spend the remainder of
the day seeing the sights together.
The young man very soon drops remark that
he has just returned from Havana, New York.
or some other place where he has been on q
pleasure trip. and that on arriving In the city
this morning he received notice from the Louis
lana Lottery Co.. that he has drawn d 900. He
requests his friend to go with him to the Office
Of the company to draw the money. They OF
course go to the rooms Of the gang where they
find q man sitting behind desk apparently very
busy. The young man producing ticket, re-
ceiyes his e1 600 from the man behind the desk.
and is informed BY him that he Is entitled tofour
tickets. which he receives.
LARGE SILK. CLOTH,
with numbers OF different colors painted ON It.
is then laid on the table, and pack OF cards.
with numbers on them, b produced. The
young man insists On his friend taking two Of
the cards and trying his luck. The cards are
dealt to the young man and his friend. and the
yonng man loses, and his ffie0d wins probably
300. The young man tries It again and loses,
but his friend u winning, and the young man
stops playing, remarkng that he h In bad luck.
but encourages his friend to keep playing, tell
ing him that be II Ia luck, and VIII probably |
win large sum u be plays long enough. Tho
stranger gets excited and finally begins TO lose,
and Q0neFnllv nlaya until Ia has lnak N TIA