The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-08-26
FLEEc1NG AMERICANS IN LONDON.
An English Sharper Who Did Up a
Fresh Young Milwaukeean.

an EGgllSn Sharper VINO Ola Up
Fresh Young Milwaukeean.
New YORK, Aug. 25.-The fleeing of the
American abroad goes merrily on. The
bait that always catches the man from the
states is the heavy swell 1t is not to be
wondered at the shrewdest of Americans
are deceived by London and Partisan gam
blers when one reflects that the most acute
of native judges are easily taken in by
them. l recall an instance which serves to
show how the London sharps work in the
year OF grace, 1888.
/ was standing in front of the Victoria
hotel one afternoon with the younger son
of one of the richest men in Milwaukee,
when victoria drove up to allow a gen
tlenan known as Edwardes Potter ESQ.,,
to alight. give his name because he is
one of the best known gamblers in Lon
don, though he poses as a bowling swell
He is rather consumptive il appearance,
but looks an aristOcrat from the toes up
His carriage was perfec ly appointed, the
horses easily worth $1,000, and both of the
men on the box the perfection of good form.
He wore white kid gloves with
heavy black stitching. Aside from
this he was perfectly drsssed-a
tail. languid man, with q dropping
mustache, single glass, and an air of I'M
deniable distinction. | had seen him about
London a great deal, learned that he fire.
quented the hotels where Americans
stopped, and that he was gambler
Afterwards | had seen him at the Smith
Kilrain fight so that, when the son of one
of the richest men iii Milwaukee rushed
forward and grasped his hand, thought
that something would come of it. He was
clever little chap-my friend from Mil
wauKee-had spent a good many of his
twenty eight years of life in roaming about,
and was very well known in New York.
II suppose" l said, that you know that
that man is a professional gamblerm
"Nonsensem said the only son. Hes
one of the best known men-about-town in
| Notwithstanding fellow in every way
| He has just bought new gig, and he's
! going to take me along to test the springs
Half an hour later Edwardes Potter
whirled up to the door of the Victoria and
a beautiful ash cart with chestnut cob,
| whose shiny coat was embellished by
white collar and russell leather harness.
| The pair went off to pigeon shoot, and the
only son came back in tine evening, misty
but happy.
Lost twenty pun's," he said, foggily, as
| he went on his way to dinner. AN your
| frien', Edwardes Potter, loaned it to me.
| That's tn kim of gambler he is Good
enough for me, I'll tell you that much"
A couple of hours later, when was at
the Savoy theatre, the only sou drifted into
| tie box with an invitation to supper and a
small game Of poker afterward
II heard you were here" he said, land
| wanted TO catch you before you went out
Who'll be there" | asked.
"All friends of ours" he said Were
just going to play ten shillings limit"
When we returned to the hotel at mid
night, supper was laid.
R,.n Al
| Edwardes Potter and a Man w ho-Spoiled-
| It-Atl He was a sleek, suave and pallid-
| faced American gambler-the sort of man
whom the average American can spot at a
| glance. The only man knew in the crowd,
an Irish leader. winked knowingly at me
before the supper was finished. 1t was a
We agreeable party, but not the sort that
| one would care TO meet at card nble For
| tunately the only son got three sheets in the
wind and became helpless from wine be-
| fore the supper was finished and this
was the excuse for breaking up the party
| We took him to his room, where his servant
put him to bed, and then we went back,
smoked a cigar with the gamblers and re-
| tired for the night. We left Mr. Edwardes
Potter and one of his English crones in the
smoking room. Ten minutes later they
sscended TO the third story # the hotel.
though they did not live there, entered the
| room of the drowSv youngster from Mil
waukee, rallied ard jok. with him for a
while. got him to siy up in bed and match
coins, aud when they left half an hour later
they bad ''won" 81, 800 from him. Of this
something over $500 was cash, the rest an
inebriated !. O. u.
The following day there was a great stir
about it. 1t is only fair TO say that the
manager of the MOTEL did all in his pou or
to get the money back, but failing in this
he cleared the smoking room of rs magni6-
cent collection of gamblers as London
could show He had not known before that
they were there. Nevertheless, / noticed
that when | returned TO London again,
Mr. Edwardes Potter was still one If the
most distinguished and apparently popular
visitors TO that and other hotels where
Americans congregate. | was told by a
good English authority that his business in
fleeing Americans amounted, to about
$780, 900 year. There is no risk, either
They don't shoot in London.
BLAKELY HALL.