The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-05-29
HOW O'BRIEN PLAYED BCNCO.
Tho Way He Got $4,000 Out OF Mr.. John
II. Peck OF ALBANY

tho story Of tho working OF the bunco gamc
which he gave in his testimony Mt his trial in
Albany. O'B-ien stands at tho head of the
hnnco men Of tho United States. and his story
Of how he got $4,000 from John II. Peck OF
Albany gives an insight into tho working de-
tails OF his profession. 1t so happened that
tho jury did not entirely believe his story and
he was convicted and sentenced to Dannemora
for ten years for robbery whlo he asserted
that ho was guilty Of nothing worse than
grand larceny.
His theory Of defence was that no had got
his $4,000 from Peck by playing u simple
bunco game. and not by force or robbery at ALL
To prove this he went on the stand and, pro-
ducing all tho implements Of the game. no
buncoed the Judge as we'll as the District At
torney and the Jury.
O'Briens story was that he and Post we're
the operators. They had marked Peck as n
man who was anxious to make money and
had fair amount to invest. Post called
on Peck and introduced himself us II nephew
al Erastus Corning: one OF tho most prolni-
nent citizens of Albany. and the owner of a
good deal of property. Young Corning said
that he wanted to buy n house on the highest
point Of Clinton avenue. in order to get his
wife AWAY from the malaria near the river.
Peek had house which he was willing to soil
for $4,000; He and Corning walked up to the
house: and on the way back Corning sug-
gested that they stop in and see the agent ior
y
establish an agency in Albany for tho sale OF
tickets tick Corning explained to Peck that the
ne, new company would d.al much more Literally
and that he thought some, money could be
made by investing in the. lottery. as he had
already made some himself.
Peck went in with Corning and called on
UBricn. who explained to them that he was
s with H it's Een As Sne Il
tho State agents with power to conduct
small drawings himself h. conducted a fewfor
.,E l,f,k = t.l-
and won n few hundred dollars which was
promptly paid with the exception Of a small
The lottery r., was .ondnct.d with thu pack of
forty eight cards in eight sets. running from
one SPOT to slA snots o.; on card The Investor
eight cards, and the. spots would amount to
something between six and forty eight. ftho
spots amounted t" six he got n prize of $1,000.
draw Of forty.ci.ht in" prizes diminished
t. tho intermediate numbers which only en-
titled the drawer to another chance. OBrien
told Peek that a, lie was a friend Of Mr.. Cor
ning.s nephew he did not mind explaining
company to make any money ut first. but to
encourage people to buy tickets and make
h"f @n Sd tnnt " thG
ings and that every other. draw entitled the in
ve7tEr to nTI H. or % another r drnW ina
front OF him. II was about rs large as the side
OF II newspaper folded oncc: There were num-
ths amount oftho prize which each number i" y" en-.
titled tho investor to printed in black below
tho number IN one =, ni ne chart was
not as prominently printed rs t 10 amount of
the prizes under the otncr numbers. but still
quite plain and lcglple
You lose all.
q. This number was raIied The Grand Condi-
that this prize WAS offered only once in city.
and then to som" man Of hifh personal and
business standing. who would let tho fact that |
he had won it be knpwr IN "r,'cr to draw other
investors. No qualifications wero required |
from other investor. tux nny nm who was
Using $4,000 prize must prove that il. was |
worth at least that much money
than scliiu.: houses an! he made nm appoint |
ment with Corning Ia "nll tho nnxt day and
qualify himself !T u" "rmnn conditional Ad-
ment,ed as an ordinary investor and won $40.
o'i1icnn. and Pack Produced $1,000 worth {" Of
bonds and other securities. O. i'rlcn said he had
doubt peek :"oI nh siv'oUo as the word
Tor him. hut tho rules of his company were
strict ana he could not mak" that an escep
ion. even in 'n case %, 90 40 's'maple man
~! .y ""p see Mr. Peek" said O'Brien. eve are
ali :iGh,. int must comply with the Rules
IF the com.auv and So" the money"
Peek then went down town and had a bank
JACK /" tho nous, and drew his cards. whi'"h
TO twenty seven in the mum er OF
'nnts 50 that he was entitled to the Grand
nndtional Advertising prize. but he PRODUCED
,is money and Mr.. o. rien started to count IL.
,ut. finding that took some time. said he
youli take peck's word for it.
"ni course. You understand. Mr. Peck" he
aid. that this prize has to he drawn twice to
,"c"me the property ri the owner"
Peck had not exactly understood that hut
~ UNDERSTOOD that o Brien would flx the cards
M fiat they would come ont ~ again, and hn
ct his m ancy stay on tho hoard. This time
he cards cam" out ~ instead Of ~. OBrion
'ointrd to the rassaG. under tho %. You
Peck wa. ratified by what had taken place
rornns was very sorry, and told Peck that AS
DON rs he could get down to tho bank the
,eyt day no would take out, $1,000 and give
I" i"ck to Il. make him god. Peck felt almost
money that he had already. won. and he knew
hat the promise Of any of tho Cornings was
'ood for several SlO.OOO.
Peek and Corning started to walk up to
'ock's house. and Corning left Peck at his
teps Then Peck began to think. as he testi-
ed on the trial.
II began to wonder what would become OF
~ $1,000 Il he wasn't Mr.. Erastus Corning's
He Kept on wondering all night The next