Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-08-30
BUNKo AND MONTE.
How q Chicago Detective Posed
az q Planter I'm New Orleans.
Chicago Tines.

Chicago Times.
"Banoo, or, IS it was afterWAr'
called, bunko, first made its appear
ance at New Orleans in 1862" begaI
a Chicago old timer in . talk with
Times representative, land | was .
that time engaged in the pleasing 90
cupation Of skinning suckers in thu
Crescent City. The party CONSISTED
| of Jumbo Howard, 'Reddy' Muir
ply, q couple Of gentlemen now il
legitimate business in this city, and
myself. We had an office on st
Charles street, aud one night during
Mardi Gsas Murphy and myself were
seated therein, when Howard rushed
into the room. Boys, said he, i
have Just had an introduction to the
richest planter in the Red river coun-
try. His name is Colonel Oliver, and
l understand he sold his cotton and
deposited the proceeds, about sl6, 900,
with our banker. Now get ready
for big game, and will land him in
the course OF an hodr or two. He
carries no ready money, but his paper
Is as good as gold. We will accept
his drafts and have them Dashed be-
fore he can sQueal.' So saying jun
bo' repaired to the St. Charles after
Colonel Oliver, while Murphy and l
anxieusls awaited developments. At
10 O'Clock at night, | think it was,
Jumbo was heard on the stair and to
our intense delight q stranger accom-
panied him. Murphy ofhciAted as
bookkeeper, while l took q seat st the
table on which was spread the bunko
chart. Sure enough Jumbo had
captured sucker, . great, big swarthy
planter, we'll dressed, wearing Oh his
Immaculate shirt front a four karat
diamond. Neither Murphy nor myself
had ever seen him before. Jumbo
asked the usual question, il this was the
Office OF the Royal Havana Lottery,
and Being informed in the Affirmative,
produced his ticket and had it cashSd,
receiving $50 10 gold and two tickets in
the next drawing, which for convent
ence made then and there. Col. OH
yer was given a ticket by Jumbo, and
threw a star number. l Immediately
raised him to 500. He said he had no
money with him, but would either get
some from the st. Charles or give q
draft on his banker. l wanted to
know the address of his banker, and
was given the name Of the Individual
who had charge Of our own funds.
This was satisfactory, and in less time
than it takes to tell you Colonel Oil.
yer had bet $4,000 in drafts drawn By
himself on our banker. He threw
iorty-three again, another star number,
and | raked in the drafts. The Col
onel had dumped his bundle, but he
took the loss good naturally. He had
taken the chances, he said. and might
have won, but would we be kind
enough to hold the drafts in the
morning until be could get the cur
rency from his broker, as he did not
wish that gentleman to think he would
gamble 80 heAvily?' OF coSrse we
would, and myself took the Colonel
and Jumbo down to Louis, where
we had several bottles Of wine and
numerous Reina Victories. Colonel
Oliver by this time was little sore,
but said it was ell right; he would
make it good in the morning. [ babe
him goodnight, and left him at the
hotel door. Feeling good2 l should
think / was, and / proceeded to paint
the town red. About midnight |
dropped into the St. Charles, and was
accosted by Detective Devereaux,
who said he would like to have me
meet friend of his from Chicago who
was in one Of the private rooms in the
restaurant. [ was only too glad to
meet anybody that night, and ordered
the barkeeper to send in half dozen
bottles Of extra dry. DevereAux and
[ then entered the wine room, where q
conviVial party Was seated, and who
DO you think was the chief spirit?
Why, no less q parsonage than my
friend, Colonel Oliver. He did not
look like loser, either, and thought
he vag dead game bird.
by the way, said Devereaux to
me, i want to introduce you to De-
tective William Pinkerton, of Chicago
alias Colonel Oliver and then they
roared and laughed at my expense. /
handed Pinkerton the drafts had
Just won from him aud was shouting
for more refreshments, when Jumbo
Howard entered the room. What
did he do2 Why, be just tainted. We
had been beautifully jobbed. Pinker.
ton had never seen bunko, and had
managed to get himself steered against
il. He had learned the name Of our
banker, 80 as to give the matter more
solidity, and he often laughs about it
10 this very day."