Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-24

on which ''gigs" Of three numbers are made as
often As they appear, and such other modes az
the fancies OF the players may suggest or
devise.
AFTER THE DRAWING.
The player having made his play, which we
will suppose was for the morning drawing,
now awaits its result. The drawing having
taken place about noon and the result having
been duly printed on the little slips before
the Virginia headquarters Of the company with
his sheets and the receipts from the plays taken
by him, now prepares to return to the city.
But before leaving for the city the ''hits" made
wit with him that ssI is the winning plays made on
funds necessary to pay them are calculated and
he is then provided by the company's agent
with an amount of money large enough to pay
all hits" With this money and hundreds Of
printed copies of the drawing he then sets out
on his return to the city. The writer" if he
has fixed place for the transaction OF his
business, directs his steps toward that place. or
II, as the case commonly is, he has no fixed
place of business, but transacts il on the ely
his patrons, knowing this meet him he
wanders from point to point. In these ways
the results of all drawings are distributed and
winners paid. Such are the methods observed
by the 'writers" and the PLAYERS excepting the
facts as before stated, that the ''snide'' or cut
throat concerns refuse the payment of big
=.
KNOWN BY NUMBERS.
The writers" are known to the companies
they represent by numbers only, ~ Writer
No. T." &c. To the police they are known by
name, Of course, and..so familiar are the police
with the employment of the writers that
they know just which concern they represent.
SO it is that when writer" is caught the po-
lice know to a certainty just what lawyer will
defend him, for the different concerns and
their employees are all represented by legal
talent regularly engaged from year to year.
The writers" range from ignorant depravity
to otherwise seeming responsibility and are
scattered throughout the very length and
breadth Of the District.
THOUSANDS OF pLAYERs
The players Of policy number thousands of
men, women and children Of the District, and
according to Detective Block, a recognized au-
thority here upon all matters relating to policy
playing. it is responsible for the commission Of
more crime that any other evil to be found.
The players not only risk their money in game
in which the chances are heavily against them,
but also, it is stated, frequently cheated out
of their rightful earnings by irresponsible con-
Germs. For the means to engage in it murders
have been committed, robberies have been per-
petrated, and steps taken which lead to ruin and
disgrace. In fact, its extent and the terrible
results which follow it are but feebly realized
by our citizens, and to crush and stamp it out
will require the combined and increasing eff
forts of the entire police department Of the
District and its courts. but also that OF its in
dividual citizens. The smallness Of the plays
taken encourages and invites not only the low
est and the most poverty stricken beings to en-
gage in it, but as well mere children, thus
making it possible to instill in youthful minds
that desire for gambling. which. once fully
aroused, stops at nothing to crafty it.