Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-02-12
NEW YORK LETTER.
TIE DARK AND rHE BRIGHT SIDES OF
GOTHAM.
A Bavdnst King-How He Treats His
slaves-rhe Latest Gossip
Social Pests.
Correspondence of tho Richmond Dispa,ch.l

NEW YORK, February II, 1883.
In looking up the subject Of sawdust
svindling a short time ago ] ran across a
strange character, or rather new phase
OF character of man whom ! already
knew as one Of the most successful
knaves in the green-goods business. Evil
IDENTITY in his profession il ia necessary to
havo considerable number of under
lngs whc attend 10 the details Of Job
while he furnishes the money and the
brains. These miniOns are those
with whom the victims come most
Immediately in contact they are
also the men who are arrested
and sent cup the river" whenever
a green goods customer succeeds in get
ting any sort OF vengeance. They very
seldom peach on their chief, and
in fact, are bound to him by ties of 10y
atty close resembling those which exist
between the average dimc-novel bandit
and his men. The singular part of it is
that the savdust king of whom | am
speaking takes every possible means TO
impress upon outsiders all sorts of exag
gerated ideas of loyalty and devotion OF
his gang. and OF the princely generosity
on his part which Is its cause. took
occasion 10 follow him into a variety OF
his hsunts one day and was rewarded
by the pleasure of witnessing
funny little comedy. The man Of
sswdust had Just made good haul and
was enjoying q sense OF his own i'm
portance to q degree that / have never
seen equalled. The impressiveness Of
his appearance was Frightened by n SUI
porbiy gorgeous vest and a neckte bril-
liant enough TO shine in the company Of
his diamond scarf-pin. The smile upon
his countenance Outshone them both,
and he strolled into saloon with the air
OF n prince. At table in a remote cor
ner sat three members of his gang. The
chief saluted his followers graciously
and ordered round of drinks. Then
he drew from his pocket n great roll OF
bills, and regarded them with a look
which indicated unmistakably that money
was no object TO him.
TWENTY FOR YOU.
"Chimmie," said he, "you're good
boy, and you done that last job for me
like a man. Here's twenty dollars for
you,' and he handed over the money.
a. Chimmie" took it with expressions
of gratitude which struck me as a
little strained. Mike, a small man
wearing a coat several sizes too large
for him, was the next beneficiary.
He received fifty dollars, and voiced
his opinion of his superior's great
ness in language more forclhle and
more lavishly protane than that which
"Chimmie had employed and yet it
had the same tint of artificlslitv.
Another slave got thirty dollars, and
then the great man went out. The
scene had attracted no little atten-
ton from bystanders, and envious
glances were turned upon the three for
tunate ones. followed the sawdust
Crnsus when he left the place, and was
led by him through several streets. Our
course was a kind Of circle about the sa-
loon. In about FIVE minutes We met
"Chimmie." He did not seem sur
prised, and neither did the chief, but
was both surprised and amused, for
"Chimmie drew forth the twenty dol
lars which he had so lately received and
returned it TO the generous donor.
Within five minutes tho other two
men had made similar restitution.
Then the significance of the affair
dawned upon me. My sawdust king
had been playing little comedy de
signed 70 show what a great man he was.
Nv first thought was that he had been
working on the feelings Of some country
man who had been among the spectators
but later discovered that the play had
been not for money but for glory. He
had desired simply to magnify himself
in the eyes OF the salOon-loungers and
hanpers-on. [ learned that this trick
was an old one of his which was we'll
understood by his intimates but never
failed 10 impress stranger. Perhaps 1t
may have brought him a customer or
two incidentally, but that was not It's
purpose.
SOMETIMES SUBSTANTIAL.
n should be said in justice to this
great man that his iberality does not
always take so unsubstan:ial a form.
Nearly ali Of his "steerers " are clothed
with the cast-off clothing of their master,
which are always Of the most expensive
material. BATS and shoes are also dis
tributed in this way. As nine out of ten
Of these men are gamblers who " blow
in " the share OF profits paid them by the
head of the gang, this matter OF clothing
is of considerable importance. When
they are arrested the chief furnishes them
with funds for defence and they come out
OF prison Just as loyal as ever. They
delight TO see their captain exalted III
the eyes of men, and enter readily
into such deceptions as that which
] have described. Sawdust gangs are
Jealous of each other, aud this sentiment
helps to bind the various bands together.
Their efforts to steal victims from each
other are often ludicrous. l remember
a case whore a detective put up job
on a sawdust crowd and rugged up a
bogus countryman as a snare. This prey
was stolen in an artistic manner, and the
was that a gang which had
been wholly unsupported was captured
through their own trickery.
A queer crew are these dealers in green
Goods an evil which nothing but the
growth of human intelligence can ever
eradicate.
SOCIAL PESTS OF NEW YORK.
New York has innumerable social
nests. but one Of the meanest is the swim
ding tenant-the tenant, that IS, who
habitually defrauds his landlord OF the
rent. There are hundreds of such per
sons here. so great indeed has this evil
become that the Real Estate Exchange
has taken measures to have what is termed
a "blaok list of dishonest tenants pre-
pared for the protection OF landlords.
There are numerous cases on record OF
tenants who have moved thirteen times IN
one year, and who paid little OF no rent.
These are termed "rounders. " They
secure house or flat and often move
out in one week. They secure other
places through the recommendation of
an unscrupulous landlord, who finds he
will receive no rent and is therefore glad
70 get rid of them. Others stay longer.
They say they cannot pay in advance,
and at the end OF month move
out Others carry the game fur
ther. They give notes for past rent,
n.