The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-07-26
HORSEMEN'S TRICKS.
The Methods by Which Unsuspecting Persons
Are Swinded by Knavish Dealers.

Are SWindied by Knavish Dealers.
Brooklyn Union.
Their latest plan of procedure is to advertise
the sale of gentleman's outfit because Of the i'll
health of the owner. The stable IN which the
sale is TO take place is invariably in a highly
respectable neighborhood. 1t has all the appear
ances OF what it purports to he. The carriages
aud harness look neat and in good condition.
and the horse or horses appear to be all they are
represented as being. The prices asked for the
plugs are seeming y wonderfully low, and a sale
is often effected. In most instances the horse
sold as trotter is an old and worthless plug
and is dear at any price. The question is asked:
How can an old horse be made young again?
This is done by what is called in the parlance of
knaves, "blshopplng," dyeing, 'gypping' and
'gingering." An explanation of these terms is
also an explanation of the methods OF the knav-
iSh horse dealer.
The class of horses upon which these men
work are horses of considerable age and of some
blood. The age is plainly apparent, because of
their outwardly slanting teeth, the deep depres-
sions over their eyes, their shaky limbs and the
frosty covering of their shaggy coats. 70 get
rid Of the first of these indications of age
''bishoppne" is resorted to. The teeth are all
carefully fled to the size and shape Of the teeth
Of a young horse. Then the dark marks and
cavities found in the front teeth of all young
horses are counterfeted by the means of a hot
iron, which burns out the cavities and gives the
teeth all the peculiar appearances of those of q
young horse Then the coat of the horse is
carefully covered with dye, and the animal begins
to take upon himself the appearance OF youth
The deep depressionS about the eyes still re.
main, and contrast greatly with the otherwise
youthful appearance of the animal. The next
work of the manipulation is to get rid of these.
This is done by what is called ''gyppng" That
is. the loose skin which DROPS over the eyes and
ca uses the depressions is punctured and the
hollows blown into, putting them out and giving
the horse the last touch necessary to complete
his youthful appearance. The old plug is then
piled with stimulants aud.is ready for inspection.
The coniding purchaser is pleased with the
appearance Of the horse, gives him gentle
exercise, buys him because he thinks the price is
very low. The animal is taken to his stable,
and when the purchaser has hitched him for q
at the age his purchase has taken on In one
night A visit to the stable where the purchase
was made results in the discovery that the horse
dealers have fled, to pursue their swindling III
some other portion of the city.
Horses lame in one leg are the sort of animals
these swindling dealers like TO trade in. They
purchase morse of good breeding and points
for small sum and proceed to sell him as sound
to an unwary purchaser. Their method is cruel
but simple When they desire to sell horse
that is lame in one leg, they remove the shoe
! from the hoof of the sound leg aud insert a pea
or stone between the hoof and the shoe The
| horses lameness for time is imperceptible.
Another method Of curing lameness in a horse
| sometimes resorted to by these swindlers is as
| follows: small incsion is made about half
| way from the knee to the joint of the lame leg,
| and then the white tendon cord at the back of
| the shin bone is cut and the external wound
| sewed up. This method sometimes effects a
permanent cure, although the animal is never tit
for much work, generally breaking down entirely
| after the least overeXertion
| The fellows are often employed by an honest
man to sell horse, and then their employer