Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1888-09-28
TRICKS OF GAMBLERS.


traveller whose territory lies IN the
West, but who makes frequent trips
home to Philadelphia to see his wife
and little ones. Il never touch the
cards any more, continued he, 'Gbut
1 used to be an inveterate gambler,
and have lost many dollars at keno,
faro, poker and other games.
played every kind of system, think
ing I would strike one that would in
sure success. Butt found that while
1 sometimes won, more often I lost,
and I began an investigation that
ended in a decision that I would
never gamble again, and I have kept
my resolution so far. But did I never
find an honest gambler? can't say
that I ever did; that is, a professional.
Some Of them are gOOd-hearted fel-
lows, and are always ready to ex-
tend a helping hand and purse to
the needy. But when they get into a
game they would cheat their own
relatives, it has become so much of a.
second nature to them. Many of
them look upon their gambling as a
trade and consider the cheating a
necessary part Oft.
'But about my Investigations into
the gamblers tricks. Yes, 1 was
coming to that; only give me time.
I concluded that the only way was
to get on the inside as it were, and
I began to cultivate the acquaintance
Of a man who had run a game at one
time, but was then taking a rest.
He knew that I had gambled con-
siderably, for I had lost many dol
lars at his place, and when I init
mated to him that I wanted to pur-
chase an outfit aud start a house on
my own account, he said he was just
the man to put me through in good
shape. He said he was interested in
q place where all kinds OF gambling
paraphernalia, and especially those
for sure things or trick. games,
were manufactured. l made an en-
Gagement with him and met him a
week later. After cautiOning me to
be very. careful. he took me to the
top floor Of a large building, where
we found an extensive manufacturing
establishment, and introduced me to
the man in charge. In this room
we're countless numbers of chips,
cards. deal boxes, faro and roulette
layOuts, red and black, hazard,
sweat, keno and all conceivable kinds
III n
large, and everywhere the eye wand
cred it rested upon gambling instru-
ments of some kind.
The man handed me price list of
articles and then showed me his trick
faro deal boxes, made OF German sill
yer. He also showed me an article
by which the cards were cut for the
box, and then putting the cards in
the box showed me how, as the cards
were cut in a certain way, the dealer
could always tell the next card to
the one on top. He then showed me
what they call the double deal box
that is, q box out OF which two cards
instead of one can be taken at once,
and the players cannot discover the
trick. These are what are called
sanded cards, and stick together, re
QUiring q certain amount Of pressure
to force them apart. He also showed
me a circular containing a fac-simile
of the backs of eight different sets of
marked cards, which he said were new
designs. These were about No. 70
on the list, showing that they manu-
featured that number of differently
marked packs Of cards; for these new
designs he asked $3.50 pack. He
then gave me an estimate Of what q
faro layout would cost, and figuredi it
up to about SOL.
Talking in a general way he said
the business was worth $25, 900 q
year, as they dealt with parties all
over the country and in Europe. but
they didnOt want it known that they
manufactured implements for cheat
ing or trick games. They did their
business entirely through the mail,
and no one, as a rule, was permitted
in the room. Ny friend, the ex-deaI-
er, said that the proprietor travelled,
selling the gambling devices in the
West and Southwest, and disposed Of
a great many.
He then explained the trick cards
to me and showed how a man could
always win with them. In a game,
when it was his deal or edge, he
could tell the next card that was go
ing to be dealt, and could have thus
virtually six cards to the other play
er's five. One of the packs, upon
which he particularly prided himself
as beyond detection, was a card
marked with a very fine brush. I
bought this pack and showed the
cards to a number Of persons, who
declared the marks to be beyond de
lection by anyone not acquainted
with them. The ink used Tor mark