The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1885-05-16

prove themselves sure game for the vari-
GUS types of cheats who exc out a per-
ilous livelihood by trading upon their
credulity.
The world never will hear the complete
details of all the tricks played on the I'M
wary. Many who have come to grief
reason philOsophically that they have
bought their sad experience at the price of
the amount out Of which they have been
cheated, and so will not by recourse to the
aid of the authorities, and its consequent
publicity, allow themselves to be the butt
or laughing stock of their friends.
Foremost among the many cheats of all
varieties who are always sure to infest
thickly populated localities, are the
"bunco" men. Their methods are very
simple, and are unfortunately too often at
tended with success. A "buncO steerer'
must, however, bring some brains into his
nefarious calling, and it is sometimes
wonderful to see what keen perception and
persuasive faculties, which, if honestly APP
piled, would win distinction for their
possessor, are brought into play by the
"buncO sharperS."
It takes a little ring of confederates to
carry on this game successfully. There is
first the ''spotter," who scents out, as it
We're, the game, and then quickly appriSes
the "beaters," who, if they succeed in
hooking their man, pilot him into the
hands Oft the lottery man and his cOnfeder-
ates, who ''play the gTeeny" for all he is
worth, and then instantly vanish TO meet
again at some pre- arranged trysting place,
where the 'swag" is honorably @ ''divied
up"
The reader is familiar with the oft-reci-
ted details of the "bunco" mans method |:
how the victim is accosted by a stranger
in mistake and his name and address are
secured, and then, armed with this vaua-
HE inflammation friend W boTn
he has forgotten addresses him by his name
and with an insinuating manner, of which
the "bunco steerer" is complete master,
wiles him into a saloon or lottery shop,
where the coup de grace is given, and, a
sadder, wiser and poorer man laments over
his misadventure.
A oo-coniiding old gentleman, who does
not give his real name, has furnished us
with that portion of his diary which re-
lates TO "bunco" trick. As it is eminently
graphic and quite comprehensive, we think
1t unnecessary to indulge in further COM
ment, so give it to our readers in his own
exact words:
SANDUsKY, o., April -, lSS5.-To the Editor
of - Sir: | send you herewith, according to
promise, the leaves from my diary bearing
upon the little trouble / got into in New
York. As do not wish my charitable neigh
bors in this locality should have the pleas
ure of commiserating with me, You will
please withhold nv proper name and for all
purposes of identity and in this narrative
call me yours truly, JOHN SMITH.
THE DIARY.
l am at home, safe and sound in
Sandusky, thank God for that! and save
that | am little poorer in pocket and
somewhat crestfallen in spirit, | am none
the worse for my adventure. Ihad little
business to transact in New York, which
could have been, perhaps, as well done by
letter, but then a bachelor of my time Of
life often likes to ran away from the dull
routine of home surroundings to experience
for while the hustle and unrest of great
city.
| never travel without money. Some
people tell me it is dangerous to carry
about with me as much as / do on these oc-
casions. Perhaps it is, but having had 3
sad experience in my youth of journey /
undertook without being burdened with
the circulating medium, have arrived as
the conclusion that a fair allowance of