Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-12-25
A Defeated Fraud.
From the Dengsr Neqos.


"In 1864 there were numerous places
where the tenderfoot was beguiled and robbed
OF his all. The most notorious place was the
room run by Bill and Hy Ford. They didn't
run anything but poker rooms, but many a
poor devil with taste for the game was en-
tlced in there and robbed"
How was it d0neP'
81 will tell you. One OF the hangers on
around the rooms was gambler named Jerry
Lewis. Jerry was crooked throughout. He
couldn't play fair game If he wanted to
lie had his cappeis around town gathering
upthe unwary. He always had his particular
seat at a table. and the man who sat oppo-
site TO him was always heeced before be got
up G:r..,u
but wasn't. Jerry had winning way about
him in more WAYS than one. He never went
for anything but big game. He would get
around fellow, propose quiet game of
draw, take him to his room, and the two
would sit down TO table in room by them
selves. Jerry had his confederate however.
and had him stationed in the loft Immediate
ly above the table. There was q small hole IN
the ceiling. where the fellow could see the
suckers hand. Then there was an ingenious
system OF wires arranged, by which signals
could be given.
THE signals were all gwen on the sole of
Jerry 8 foot. There was hole in the floor as
we'll as IN the ceiling. Jerry would place his
foot over the hole. and his pal would work the
wires. They had a telegraph system. One
tap would mean something, two something
else, so you see that the watcher could keen
Jerry informed as TO what the other fellow
held. IL was dead sure thing, and Jerry
made mint of money"
GLOW was the trick discoveredg"
"A Texan named sam Reid struck Denver
with $4,000. He played bank heavy and won
SlO,s00 more Jerry tackled him for a game
OF draw, ana sam consented. The first night
Jerry lost Just enough 10 make the Texan
think that he was the bnss poker PLAYER in
the world. The next morning they quit even.
The night after Jerry started I'M TO win the
I a. NAT Nf IN 10 49,
hold anything. he knew IL was useless 10 nv
ana stack the cards. because Reid would have
discovered that, and there would have been a
shooting scrape. IN sDite Of signals Jerry
quit loser that night, but he didn't give M
lie tackled REID again the next night and
won right along.
Gle nad won $4,000 OF the southeruer,s
money, aui was laying him ell out TO win the
rost OF IL. he raked ia pot Of 5000 and had
dealt the cards himself. Reid had only about
$4,000 left.
'Hc rot a fun hand on tho draw. and Terry
got full hand also his full hand being larger
than Reid'a. The betting commenced. and
Reid had every cont OF his money up on tha
call. Before the cards we're shown Reid toid
Jerry % hold on while. lie drew revolver
ant lait - on the table, still retaining 1old OF
IT, however.
"'Don't show your hand yet he said.
Every cent ! have IN the world IL on thot
table. / don't know which one has the hest
but DO know there has been cheating dome
somebody has gwen my hand away. That
fomebOdy ie over us. II everything b squnre
YOU won't object 10 my shooting through the
ceiling. II there 10 anything crooked. OF
course you will object
Reid raised his pistol and cooked H. Jerry
didn't say anything, but grabbed Reidis arm
but 10 waa too late. The gun went %. There
was how ana Hcainnoii ing heard. and a
fall in the next room.
There. said teid, ! knew you were rob-
hing me. ! didn't kill the fallow, but 1 wish
J had. Now, you just hand back every cent
oi my money. II Jon don't ! will pat = hole
through you bis enough for dog 10 crawl
through
Jerry was game. bti Reid had the drop on
hin, and ~ Naa forced 10 give back ever
ccatbe had wou."