The Washington critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1885-1888, 1886-07-31
GAMBLERS sUPERsTrTIoNs.
What an Old Sport Says About Hoo
docs and Signs Considered Unlucky.

What an old Sport Says About Hoo
docs and Signs Considered Unlucky.
Professional gamblers are generally
firm believers in what is termed luck,
and In many cases arc suporstitious to
a degree emitting them to being desig-
ternity of the latter class furnishes the
Virginia New Chronicle with the fol-
lowing anecdotes Of some of the most
prominent superstitions prevailing:
In Sacramento in 1850 q member of
the guild particularly free from super
stition visited famous gambling
house for the purpose of renting one
of the numerous unoccupied tables
with the intent of opening a faro game.
One was pointed out as "hoodooed' on
account of player having been
stabbed TO death while bucking at q
faro game there several months before.
The gambler said that was just the
table he was looking for. He rented
1t, opened faro game, and In less than
thirty days won 100000 from players.
On another occasion a stranger en-
| tered q saloon with closed umbrella
in his hand, and, approaching the bar,
| called for drink. While waiting TO
be served he opened the umbrella and
Internationally raised IL over the head
Of gambler, who drew pistol and
discharged Its contents into the person
| Of the owner of the umbrella, killing
him instantly. The gambler was ar
rested, and the defense set up at the
trial was that he had killed the stranger
as the only effectual method of remov-
ing the hoodoo placed upon his luck
by innocently raising an open umbrella
1 over his head. off | hadn't killed
him." pleaded the murderer, II would
never have had another days luck as
long as l lived" The sequel to the
homicide proved lucky to the public,
as the cranky sport was hanged for the
crime.
In the mining camps in California in
early days a rabbits claw nailed under.
meath the top of table covered with q
faro or monte layout was reckoned o
"dead hoodoo," and miners visiting
towns adjacent to their camp on Sun
days would often stick u cottontaiP 8
trotter underneath the top of a gam
ing table at which they were bucking.
| 1t was not an uncommon occurrence at
the close of deal resulting unluckily
for the game for the deal, lookout and
casekeeper to light candle and care
fully inspect the under part of the top
of the table in search of the obnoxious
rabbits claw to which they attributed
their bad luck. On one occasion a
dealer was shot and fell stone dead
underneath the table while attempting
to remove one of the ill-omened claws
by the player who placed it there.
When you see the proprietors of q
game shifting the table holding faro
layout to another part of the room you
can safely bet that the game Is losing
and that they are doing 1t to change
their luck
Players also have peculiar supersti.
tons and will frequently "cash in
their checks and quit the premises as
soon as certain persons, whom they
designate as hoodoos, enter a room
where they are bucking at game.
Some players will never enter room
except by the left.hand door, seat them
selves at the left hand of the dealer and
handle their checks and coin only with
the left hand If they meet a woman
when crossing the street or sidewall
while on their way to a game they
forego their intention of bucking OF
that day.
| Ex.Chief of Police Morrison was al
inveterate faro player, and was never
absent from table long enough to &c
his meals during the last few months
before he absconded. His superstition
almost bordered on insanity. If Ger
tain persons entered room where HI
was playing he would glare at then
like q maniac, and reckoning them t.
his side, would pass out quarter AM
request them to 60 out and get drinl
and stay out, stating that he couldn'
win cent while they remained.