The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-06-06
GAMBLERS AT HOT SPRINGS.
How the Visitors Are Robbed at the
American Monaco.

How the Visitors Are Robbed at the
American Monaco.
During the recent prosecutions of several
gamblers, brought on by the Knights of
Pythias because some OF the members of that
order had been robbed, all Of the gambling
houses in Hot Springs, Ark, were closed.
But, it seems, that was only for effect. No
sooner did the Citizens Committee disband
or, rather become inactlye-than the gam
bling-houses reopened, and the ropers are
steering" strangers TO the same old stands.
These ropers are organized, and have their
particular line of victims. They are Sc
lected and assigned to work on special
class of people. They are organized into a
league, which is subdyided into classes
The fresh young roper, who Is of good adj
dress and genteel appearance, is assigned to
a particularly swell hotel TO work on the
young dudes who come here TO spend their
fathers money. Those swell r0pers at
tend the hops aud soon ingratiate them
selves with the visiting swels. After few
social games Of euchre or 10-aent ante, a
friend is invited to "sit in" The friend"
proves to be the experienced gambler. who
robs the victim that the young swell roper
has been nursing for him.
Another feature OF swell gam bling life at
the springs is the gambler in the disguise of
a real-estate or mining operator. They put
up at firSt-clasS hotels and have attractive
women with them registered as their wives.
Sometimes they are married only on the
Chicago plan. While the gamblers are busy
looking or victims among the male guests,
their wives are getting acquainted with
other mems wives and learning the finan-
cial status of their husbands Ii wealthy
and inclined to be social intrOductions are
brought about and social games and wine
luncheOns follow. Later on the men have
quiet business game and the gambler robs
his victim. These gamblers wives are
adept at cards and can make false cut and
veer a card as skIllfully as their hush ,nds.
They carry layout of cards, poker
checks, etc, merely for pastime." They
friends who call in the afternoon
to play a social game" and they
always win. A favorite dodge of
these gamblers wives is to encourage
silly young men, and even silly 4" old
boys" to call upon them. A game Of 10
cent ante is invariably suggested. They are
too gallant or. rather, too much infatuated,
tn win from lady, or 10 even object to
being swlndled, and so the gamblers wife
manages TO win enough pn-mOney to pay
hotel expenses A retired Snowman spent
about two months here this winter and ac.
cumulated more money than If he had been
playing TO crowded houses during the en-
tire season. He is considered a star poker
player.
There is, perhaps, more gambling in Hot
Springs, and greater variety of it, than in
any other city with ten times its population.
1t is also better field. because there are
more verdant visitors here than at any other
point 1t seems that visitor loses his cum
ming as soon as he reaches this American
Monaco. At his home, or in any other city,
it would be very difficult matter TO entrap
him, if no could be caught at all; but as soon
as he reaches this hot-water Gomorrah he
falls an easy prey TO the bunko thief or
smooth-tongued poker-p layeT.-Globe-D Dem
Ocrat