The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1894-06-28
GAMBLING DEVICES.
ELECTRICITY EMPLOYED BY SCIEN-
TlFIC SHARPERS.

Thinss'-By Manipulating tho Current
tho Dealer Can Select tho Winner Every
Time-But tho Fools Still bet.
1t is n tlme worn motto that q man is
a fool who attempts to beat another at
his own game. Nevertheless there is q
perpetual and rich crop Of gullibles who
insist upon throwing their hard earned
money away i'll the vain and elusive
| hope that fortune is within their easy
grasp.
Tho method is to them of no conse-
quence. They sincerely believe that the
means deserve tho end, and with this
harmful and foolish idea i'll view they
state OH their downward career, fully
believing themselves competent to get
the best Of the sharpen. But the sharper
is proud of his name, and he does his
best to deserve his title. He generally
succeeds and then lies in wait for an-
other victim. The sharper is cute one,
and it seems almost pity that his en-
| ergies are not put i'll moro useful direo.
tons His inventive ability Is far above
the average, and he contrives devices
which are marvels in their way; but as
Josh Billings tersely puts it, lit il q
| darned poor way"
Fresh in our minds arc the develop.
ments which resulted from raid by the
| police on one of the most prominent
gambling establishments.
Extraordinary devices were found
| and everything was conducted on scale
| of magnificencc and ingenuity that was
marvellous to behold. ELECTRICITY played
prominent part. In fact, everything
that could be done to further the aims
Of tho gamblers in q dishonest way was
carried out to point bordering OH per-
| fection.
There was ono device for stopping the
passage Of marble at certain point,
which could be changed at the will and
discretion of the operator in charge.
Each compartment was regularly num-
| bered and had underneath it q small
secroted electro magnet, the wires from
which were SO connected with spring
contact points placed under foot
board, which in turn was situated and
hidden OH the floor, that the ball could
be arrested in its progress at any point.
Here, though, was apparently diff
Guilty in connection with it's successful
operation. While it is true that tho
ball could be stopped, tho suddenness
Of the stop would Immediately attract
tho suspicious of tho players. 1t was
evident that tho stoppago must be per-
formed gradually, SO rs to appear nat
ural. A quick glance at the wheel show
cd the operator which compartment was
tho most profitable ono for him. The
ball slowed up, stopped, and he gather
cd in his i'll gotten gains,
Tho gradual slowing UP was by sue
ccSsive number of weak impulses sent
through tho adjoining electro magnets,
thus rctarding tho progress Of tho ball,
3 which was completed by All inner
sphere Of soft iron surrounded by n
highly polished celluloid coating. Great
skill Oh tho part Of tho operator was OF
course required to avoid detection. But
tho men who worked this scheme felt
SO sure that discovery was impossible
= that their very boldness and audacity
furthcrcd their work. Murder howev
er, will out and tho secret was finally
laid bare to q curious crowd.
Another device that attracted consid
Z crablo attention was planned to deceive
the most inquiring A table was de
u viscd the top of which contained {
Y number Of squares laid off similar tc
J. chessboard. Immediately above tht
a center Of tho board was suspended {
. light metallic board by means of q slen
der silken thread. A compond mechan
= ical motion at tho top Of triangular
), framework placed Immediately over tn,
d center of the board caused tho sill
t. thread to take rathor erratio course
J. On the boards were placed number O.
r. statuettes somewhat similar to chess
y men, but all of approximately the same
. height. The suspended ball was started
" ON its cratic course while tho table wa!
q slowly revolved.
. Bots were then made as to which par
l. ticular piece would remain erect whel
IL all others were knocked down. Piece by
n piece they dropped until but one re
q maincd, and this one Of course was de
n clarod the prize winner The game wa.
even more audacious than tho one above
. - mentioned, but if anything it was more
u ingenious.
Tho way in which it was made "s
J. sure thing" for it's possessors was MS fol
n lows: Underneath each individua
II square was rather strong electro mag
d net, all tho north poles pointing upward
h Each magnet was separately controlled
g in an adjoining room, n sigpal being
- communicated to tho operatoSby any o.
l the we'll known systems common will
$ so called "second sight, performers
S Inside Of the light suspended ball was {
y compound permanent magnet with the
t north pole pointing downward Eacl
# marker, which T described as somewhat
q similar to chessman, was loaded with
piece Of soft iron passing through its
axis The pieces for as many players as
were present were placed upon the
l. board The operator &Aoaa. according tc
his discretion, selected tAe piece which,
IS he desired to remain till tho last. The
II signal was given, and tho ball wa; start
y. cd. OF course the pieco left to the last
a was tho ono selected, and time after
time were his wages Of cheating gath.
i., :: IL e