Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-08-09
JUST LESSON IN PALMINe.
Professor Hermann shows How Easy 1t rs
to Cheat ut Baccarat.
rNe,v Work. Worldl

new lDFA NOftusl
II was little lesson Professor Hermann
was giving IN Baecarat. Baron de far-
donnet's charge that he was robbed al
Philip Daly's Long Branch gambling-house
brought the subject up, and one on the
party ridiculed the idea. -,
" IL il nonsense said he: "how could he
have been robbed if he had kept his eyes
= Baccarat is the gamblers delight" said
the Professor. 1T Is tempting fate TO
offer 10 play it with an expert. You do not
believe me? Very well. Send for a pack
Of cards"
Presently the cards were brought in.
Thcy had been purchased at q neighborlng
store and the sesl OF the package IN which
thev were wrapped had not been cut. A
minute examination showed that the cards
had never been used and were not mari ked.
They were the ordinary angel-Dacks,' su-
pertiue quality.
FIRST said the Professor, and his long
! supple fingers closed about the pack, |
will say that not only is it easier to cheat
at haccarat than at any other game of
cards where money is bet, but the easiest
way TO cheat at baccarat is by 'palmlng.
! By palmng' / mean conceallng cards IN
| tie palm Of the hand. big hand ls not
necessary. On the contary II excites sus-
picion. A natural palmer is born. The
! fingers must be wide, capable of expansion
or contraction in the highest possible de-
gree. firm. steady. and as tenacious as
steel. But let us deal baccarat. will re-
present the dealer and you gentlemen the
ayers Will you kindly shuttle the
! .rds?n
IT, Professor he1ded the pack to one of
i'e gentlemen. who shufied ind1striousiy.
.ne Professor threw the cards round to
IA of the players. All had picture cards.
which count nothing The Professor hsd
q nine-spot. the most valuable card IN the
lame. and he rakcd down his imaginary
| v nuinys.
" Will some one kindly count the cards 2
| injuries the Professor blandly a moment
! later. They were counted and found to be
seven short The Professor bandly I'M
! folds his hand which had been lying care
| lessly on his knee, and there. snugly rest
INC in the palm. were the seven missing
cards. SIX were pictures for the others ,
/ one was a nine-spOt for himself.
when you lay the pack down | PICK It
up in this hand said he, and, of course;
IT is simply q matter of dealing 10 hand
| them around
Il was marvellous how he did manlpu-
| late those cards He could fish the VIM
ning nine-sro from the bottom, from the
top, from the side The card seemed AMI
mate. The Professor. mean while, kept up
| "A running conversation. Gamblers talk
about palminc Bah They are bunglers
wood-choppers They use 4 meat-axe
whore they ought to use surgeons most
delicate instrument Now. / VIII show
YOU trick. VIII you kindly pick up q
number Of cagis from the pack!" The
gentleman ad lressed, who sat an the op-
| posite side of the table, took up number
| at random.
There are eleven there" said the Pro
| fessor when his trained eye rested on them
but to make sure they were counted
| There were exactly eleven.
CLASP them tightly between both youl
| hands" said tle Professor. This was done
Now continued the Professor. call foi
any number you please TO be taken iron
the pack" The gentleman named hye
which was laid beneath the pack cr0sswise
so they could be easily seen. The groul
were now standing H.. the Professor ol
one side Of the table. me gentleman Will
the eleven cards tightly clasped betweeI
li hands on the other, and the five card
r.,.ing crosswise beneath the pack III th'
,.ntre i'm plmn view of all.
Now open your hands," said tho Pro
~ Jr sharply, and count your cards"
There were sixteen? Some one looked
fc- the FIVE beneath the pack. They wer'
gJ-e.
" If it is not the devil, how did you Dc
that ~ asked one of the party.
"Ah. nv friend" said the Professor
while his Mephlstophelian moustachc wen
up, " it is Just a little lesson III palming