Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-11-15
POLICE! POLICE! /!
what Is the Commission Sieeuinp
Over just Now.

what Is the Commission Sicepine
over Just Now.
Despite the oft-announced statement
that no faro games are running in town,
it is well known among the gambling
fraternitythat the 'tiger"has been holding
forth for some time unmolested. 1t was
generally understood that Chief Bene-
dict, when he entered upon his official
career, received instructions from the
Police Commissioners to allow no game
of any description to operate, and it
appeared at first as if this
policy would be strictly carried out. But
scarcely a week had passed by when the
news went around among a select few
that a game had been opened up by
Rickabaugh in the Phillips Block, but it
was to be kept very dark and only
invited guests were to he admit
ted. This game has been running
ever since without interference on the
part of the police. Some idea of what is
going on among the powers that be may
be gathered from the fact that before the
game was opened Rckabaugh remarked
to one of the faro dealers about town,
| "Chief Benedict is all right, but Hum
phreys is kicking yet" That Humphreys
was also fixed was the general opinion
among the gamblers when a day
or two later play was started, and
it was also said that the Times reporters
were standing in because that paper had
always been SO loud-mouthed as regards
the suppression Of gambling, but as to
this game it kept, and has ever since re-
NAMED remarkably silent. 1t cannot be
claimed that the game has been kept so
quiet that no one knows it is running,
because it has been an open secret
for some time past, and as a gambler
remarked the police have known OF
its existence from the day it started. A
good deal of caution is being observed,
however, in case OF an exposure, for
every now and then the police are in
vited into the rooms, upon which occa-
sions no signs OF game are, of course,
visible, and after quiet drink the
guardians of the law depart, and the game
"whoops it up'' again. The gamblers
state that whoever is being squared
is getting probably 5000 month and hint
that it looks as if the authorities are
privately standing in with Rickabaugh
on this one game while publicly de.
nouncing the others. The faro dealers
and other professional sports do not like
this arrangement, for it keeps them out
of work. and then again Rickabaugh
will not admit them to his
game because it is running for
"high game' only. The usual
value of white chip is twenty-five cents,
but Rickabaugh has raised this to 81 .25,
so stack costs $25, and good deal Of
money can change hands in very short
time. As an instance that it does may
be mentioned that one business man lost
81 800 one day last week, and several
others have got Up from the table bun
dreds behind on their play. The
game opens at 8 A. NJ, and generally
closes at 6 P. NJ, unless there is big
play going on, in which case the dealing
is continued until late in the night.
Rickabaugh generally deals himself and
keeps one other man to act in the role OF
lookout.
| THE LOCATION OF THE GAME
ls, as before stated, in the Phillips Block
and can be approached either from the
Spring street entrance to that building
or by the door on New High street. 4
visitor taking the Spring street
entrance goes up stairs to the
first floor and then walks across the
glass flooring to room %. A knock at
the. door will bring Rickabaugh or his
ally to the scene and if the arrival is one
of the few invited guests, he is at once
admitted. There is long shelf within
the door and one turning this one enters
room containing small table and a
refrigerator. This opens into an
other apartment in which is the
''layout'' and where all the play
goes on. There is another room where
poker is frequently played, and this
leads to further chamber, which is
fitted up as bedroom. The whole
affair is very nicely conducted, and is
doubtless retting very handsome sum
for it's willy proprietors.
This account is of course not based on
anything the HERALD reporter is a party
to; but the whole story as here given
comes from 80 excellent authority among
the gambling fraternity that there is no
room to doubt it's essential truth. Will
the authorities now suppress this game
ard keep it suppressed? What is the
excellent Mayor doing? Where are Mr..
Humphreys lynx-like eyes? Is the new
Chief Of Police really standing in with
this game? What does it's existence
mean, anyway?