Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-11-30
GAMBLING ON THE OCEAN.
How Mr.. Solomon Played Head or Tail
For Thousand the Toss.


Mr.. Henry J. Rice, the Well-knoyvn man
ager OF the Slade-MaOri prize-fighting
combination, who was arrested MondaY
night on the charge of having fraudulent
/ IL won s., 100 from Mr.. Robert solomon
on board the Seryia during her recent trim
to this city, was discharged from custody
yesterday on his returning the money.
From a prominent official connected
with the case and who said he knew ali
the Iacts, II was learned that Solomon Is
rainier foolish young man, with proba-
ply more money than he knows what to
DO with. He is said to have entered the
smoking room of the Servla shortly before
she made her landing. There was num-
Der OF sporting men in the room besides
Rlce. Mr.. Solomon is said to have bragg
ed about the big stakes he was in the
habit Of playing for. The men winked at
each other and thought it would not be
lesson.
If you mean business" said Rice, 81
am the man for your money!"
hlce's Well-knOWn experiences in every
KIND Of games gave hidden meaning to
his words, which tickled his friends i'm
mensely, though Solomon could not see
why the others were so amused.
''fye got the stuff he said, drawing
from his pocket handful of bills Of large
play you any game you please-poker,
crlbbage, euchre-Or I'll match you heads
or tails"
snatch it is-fOr a thousand a toss, !"
cOOlly replied Rice.
Mr.. Solomon was rather taken aback at
this proposition, and it was thought that
he would weaken. The smiling faces
around him, however, caused him to pluck
up his failing courage, and he said:
Its a 90"
''What'll we toss?'' asked Rice.
"a quarter"
Mr.. Solomon produced the coin which
was used throughout the game.
At the first toss he won, and Rice with
out word handed him over two crisp
i've hundred dollar greenbacks. Mr. Solo
mon added them to his pile of bank notes,
while his face beamed with delight. There
was no thought then in his mind of foul
play or of obtaining money by trick and
/ device.
With the GOODNESS for which Rice is
prOyerblal he made a second toss and the
crisp bank notes were transferred to him.
After that stage the game went on with
varying success on either side, Mr.. Solo
mons pile, however, gradually dwindling
until he was no longer able to make
thOusand-dOllar bets. MIR. Rice accom-
mOdated him by accepting wagers for
smaller amounts, and when the Servia
reached pier 40 North River, Mr.. Rice was
winner to the amount already mentioned.
| Finding himself without money, Mr.. Solo
mon is said to have raised the cry of ''stop
/ thief" When Mr.. Rice jumped ashore he
/ was arrested and locked up over night at
Z the Prince street station house, notwith-
/ standing the efforts of his friends to get
/ him out on bail.
He handed over the money to Captain
/ Mcdonald, who took it with the prisoner
/ to Justice Patterson at Jefferson Market.
! solomon also was present, and stated his
/ intention of making an affidavit of larceny
/ by trick and device against Rice.
! Justice Patterson, however, advised
/ HIM TO settle the matter. The latter re-
/ turned the money, as stated above, and
+ was then discharged. Captain Mcdonald
/ then accompanied Solomon to the Seryia.
! 1t Is probable that the young man will re-
/ turn with the ship to Europe.
! Other passengers of the Servia are said
/ to have won money from Solomon during
/ the trip. No charge of unfair play has
| been raised against them, and Rice's
/ friends assert that he was perfectly honest
IN his dealings with the loser.
\ good deal of gambling went on con-
tinually, as it does on all ocean steam
/ ers, especially those of the English lines.
| Calcutta pools and other forms of betting
outside of cards We're INDUCED in, and
several passengers lost amounts varying
/ from 5000 to 800. The Captain and pur-
ser say that it is not their business to stop
gambling. If they suspect passenger to
be blackleg they privately warn him
that they will post his name in the smok-
ing room, and that effectually shuts him
out of all gaming for the voyage. If pas
sengers desire to stake their money and
lose it at a perfectly fair game they have
the same right to do so, say the Captains,
as they would have to throw it overheard.