The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1894-01-09
pUNco MEN.
special EfTort Made 20 Explain Their
Method of swindlinR.

san Francisco Chronicle.
SO many people at the hotels and In
other public places about town have lnte-
ly been vctimlzed by shnrpers that yes
terday large cards containing WARMING
were issued by the police department and
sent to the hotels. These have been
placed in the most conspicuous places
usually Mt or near the desk where the
registering is done.
At the Grand hotel there are several Of
these placards. and at the Palace, CALI
tornia, BALDWIN, LICK ana oceluenuil
greater or less number are displayed. inc
department has also sent CARDS TO the
myriads OF smaller hotels. me army or
confidence men that nave arrived In the
city during the phbt lew WEEKS ny
thanked by sh9rperH OF more or TESS hote
from different Eastern ciues. Iney nope
TO reap i1ch haryests from visitors ana
residents. 80 80.
issued and posted In the hotels u as tol-
lows: ,,..
OF bunco steerere. short-card players anu
| confidence men. These men lntest the
| corridors Of hotels, the vicinity OF faliroau
| ticket offices and motel wine rooms Ihey
! obtain from the hotel registers me names
| of guests and places from WhlCh luey
| come meet Them ON the street with a cor.
I dial good morning or good evening" una
| calling them 10y name, say 4 knew YOU
| nj tfuEuilOtllilk tue HlANf NANiN wv - ~
| FROM The man being In strange place
! and nnusued to tho ways OF THESE yet1nlh
| is onl too ready 70 greet u pe,suh
who may claim, that he knew MN MN
| al his home Then follows u friendly
| drink, and an invitation TO take u Walk,
| and finally he Is ushered into the back
| room OF a saloon where game OF carus
| or dice Is In progress
" on The pretense 10 pass the time the
| steerer takes a hand, he 1t cards or dice
| and wins some money He then asks me
! stranger TO play, oIlet ulVlulns nus MI
1 nings with hi mas an indncemenL rms
! Invitation Is rarely refused, Afler n 1T
| lie time he is dealt a hnnd At cdrdsi ne
| then finds that his opponent mas a manu-
! game he IL also invited TO participate,
/ which he does, resulting IN nus losing
| money. probably all he has in the world.
| The buncu stcerer Invariably extends
! svinpathy to the victim and wishes MIN
| hotter luck next time. They leave inc
| plare together, but the yicum ~ noon
shaken on, when the steerer returns 20
/ the saloon 10 get his percentage OF inc
| winnings 40 obtained by fraud
| Shun all strangers who approach IN
slsi and claim 10 know you, IL You DO
not YOU may repent H.
1T Is doubtless good idea 70 posi-
tho notices." said one hotel man yeEter-
day. "but If they don't read the papers,
and see the. warming daily uon nnow Y;
| very peculiar sometimes especially mo
travelling public. While this class OF peo-
nle are usually better informed thaIl hny
other. they read the papers and straight
way forget. thinking they can TAKE care
of themselves. =.
"Ag n fact those who really know much
nbout the world, can take care OF them
seiyea hut II must be remembered that
nrnh,ttly majority OF those nj the hos
tpls travel but little. They are here from
HE country towns and from thelr stores
ana ranches and are not always awake
to the wiles or these confidence men
Different hotei proprletors say that dur
Ing The past two weeks they have had 70
keen constant watch for card sharps and
| btneo steererE vino come In, seat them
selves and try 70 draw strangers Into
conversation.