The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-06-05
HOW o'sRIEN PLAYED BUNoo.
The Way He Got $4,000 Out OF John
Il. Peck of Albany.

IRON the NetO YORK sun.
Buncoer O'Brien's escape in France re-
calls the story OF the working Of the bunco
game which he gave in his testimony at his
trial in Albany. O'Brien stands at the head
of the bunco men of the United States, and
his story Of how he got $4,000 from John
II. Peck of Albany gives an insight into the
working details of his profession. IL SO
happened that the jury did not entirely
believe his story, and he was convicted and
sentenced to Dannemora for ton years
for robbery, while he asserted that he
was guilty Of nothing worse than grand
larceny.
His theory Of defense was that he had got
his $40, 900 from Peck by playing simple
bunco game, aud not by force or robbery
at all. To provs this he went on the stand,
and, producing all the implements Of the
game, he buncoed the judge, as well as the
district attorney and the jury.
O'Brien's story was that he and Post
were the operators. They had marked Peck
as q man who was anxious to make money
and had a fair amount to invest Post
called on Peck and introduced himself as
nephew of Erastus Corning, one of the most
prominent citizens of Albany and
the owner of good deal
OF property. Young Corning said
that he wanted TO buy house on tho high
0sL pOAub VI SlllbOu dfbuuc, III OEubT W R6b
his wife away from the malaria near the
river. Peck had a house which he was
willing to sell for $4,000. He and Corning
walked up to the house. and on the way
back Corning suggested that they stop In
aud see the agent for a new lottery COM
pany, who was trying to esta lish an
agency in Albany for the sale Of tickets.
Corning explained to Peck that the new
company would deal much more literally
by its customers than the Louisiana COM
pany. 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
O'Brien, who explained 10 them that he
was the agent for a new lottery which was
dealing very literally with its customers.
As one Of the state agents with a power to
conduct small drawings himself he con-
Quoted few for the benefit Of Corning, who
bought dollar ticket and won few hun-
dred dollars, which was promptly paid with
the exception of q small balance, which
went over TO the next day.
The lottery was conducted with q pack of
as cards In sets, running from spot to
spots on card. The investor bought
drawing for 81. He could draw 3 cards
and the spots would amount to something
between aud AZ. If the spots amounted
to be got prize Of $1,000. The same
prize was given for the maximum draw OF
A. 1He prizes diminished 10 the lnterme-
date numbers, which only entitled the
drawer 10 another chance. O'Brien told
Peck that as be was friend of Mr.. Cor
ning's nephew he did not mind explaining
that it was not the object OF the new lottery
company to make any money at first, but
to encourage people to buy tickets and
make their money afterward. That was
the reason that they had only one blank in
their drawing and that every other draw
entitled the investor to prize or another
draw.
OBrien had the bunco chart on the table
10 front Of him. 1t was shout as large as the