The morning call., 1893-07-19
How They Tried to Work the
Police Court.
THEY ROBBED GREENnORNS.
Confederation of the Story Toll by
One of Them Who Accuses Dunn
of FaithIessness.

THE CALL yesterday. He laughed as if
he were recalling good joke.
Mr.. Noon is a chevalier d'iDdustrie, vul-
carly spoken of in this country as bunko-
sieerer The pith of his jeremiad was
that Mike Dunn, the man with pull. had
not done the square thing by him. Through
the alleged treachery of Dunn he had been
induced to plead guilty when arrested for
playing studhorse poker. He had listened
hopefully to a promise that he would be
sentenced to serve only one day in Jail;
instead his term was three months in the
House of Correction. Having got out of
that dungeon Noon related the story of
Dunn's dupiicity.
1t was long supposed by observers OF
Police Court cases that Dunn had very
powerful pull with officials, obtained by
political associations and otherwise and
Moons tale occasioned no lifting of eye
brows in surprise. Dunn's saloon in the
Grand Opera-house building was for years
the rendezvous OF bnnko-steeIerS and gam
blerS. They feeced every unwary coun-
tryman whom they could entice thther.
and the newspapers contained frequent &C
counts of how greenhOrns had been robbed
at cards and by sure-thng gambling de-
vices n the back rooms OF Dumas pltfall.
Chief Crowley sought to break up this
bunko business. He failed for a consider
able period, but finally succeeded when he
stationed an officer or two at the door OF
The notorious saloon to watch those enter
ing. This guard was continued day and
night for several months. Finally the po-
lice were satisfied that the buDk0-steerer
were no longer making Duun'S place their
headquarters and the constant watch was
Withdrawn. Events showed that the work
! of bunkoing was still going on, though the
5 place of business had been changed.
Some back rooms on the second floor in
a house block away-on Mission street,
between Fourth and Fifth-were engaged,
and there the guleless granger who had
been caught on the bunko-steerer's hook at
one of the hotels was relieved of his
money. This place was provided with two
lookouts whenever sucker" upstairs
was being artfully led 10 part with his
ducats. These lookouts, of whom Noon
was one, walked up and down Mission
street. between Fourth and Fifth. and
kept an eye on the policemen on the streets.
An officer could not get nearer than half
block without being seen by one Of the
lookouts, and if a policeman were to ap-
proach the rooms in which the game was
going on the lookout would give the alarm
and there would be no signs of gambling
when he arrived.
Officer j. K. Cleary was one of the
policemen who had watched Dunn's sa-
loon. He and Officer j. j. Allen learned
that the bunko fellows had changed their
location to S24 Mission street On April
% they caught the loOkouts at a corner and
arrested them. 1t was then easy to raid
the place. as the outside sentinels could
convey no warning. Half a dozen men
were found around a studhorse poker
game in the 6unkO-rooms. Charges Of
playing this game and of vagrancy were
placed against each of the men arrested.
Noon has said that the ''gang" worked
under Mike Dunn's direction and gave him
10 per cent of all the money which they OBJ
tained to recompense him for the exercise
Of his influence when needed. He was to
get them out of trouble if they should meet
with the misfortune of being arrested.
Noon intimated that when the industrious
crowd of which he was a member was
operating at Dunn's saloon any policeman
who happened to be around when
other way. That was until after the last
election. when Chief Crowley had the
continuous watch set at Dunn's door.
II think that story is about straight"
said Officer Cleary when he read in THE
CALL the account Of what Noon had said.
"Of course l know nothing about the
percentage which he says was paid to
Dunn, but there is not anything in his
statement which l know TO be wrong /
am not sure whether Dunn has pull now
or not, but be did have before the last
election, and he used it for all it was
worth"
Officer Allen gave an account of the ar
rest and OF the proceedings in the Police
Court.
When the two policemen, having silenced
the loOkouts, reached the rooms where the
game was going on the last card had been
dealt to each player. Some silver. which
had been bet, was on the table. The
bunko-steerers had several packages of
spurious greenbacks, some stacks of what
looked like 500 pieces but were not. and
half dozen small purses which contained
round pieces OF metal that bulged out in
the shape OF $50 coiDs. These aids 10
deception were FLASHED" before the eyes
of the inn ocent gudgeoE. A brief look al
the contents of purse would be afforded
him so as to make him think that it held
$50 or 500. and purse would be bet for
one of those amounts. On one side of the
package of green backs was the represen-
taton of 500 bill. On the other side Of
the thick wad there seemed to be a green
back for smaller amount. The spurious
currency and coin were kept in sight so as
to impress the green visitor, though he
was never allowed to examine it closely.
sucker" had been brought into the
game, and he was so well satisfied with
the hand that had been dealt him that he
was willing to bet large sum on it. The
bunko-players showed a large amount of
false money. which they were willing to
wager. and he went to the hotel at which
he was staying TO draw check on an in
terror bank where he had his wealth
stored. The other players we're good
natured gentlemen and they readily
agreed to let him obtain the equivalent
of cash in this way. 1t has usually
been the custom of the sure-thing
gamblers under Mike Dunn's protectorate
IN arrapt checks from thair viotip,s rrbo