The Washington times., 1894-04-23
LOST $4,000 AT BUNco POKER.
He Himself Got Together the Party of
Sharpers Who Skinned Him.

he HDmSClI GOt lCSetueT the PaTIy VI
Sharpers Who Skinned Him.
[From the Denver Republican,
During the past week gentleman from
California has been stopping at the Brown
Palace hotel Last night he left for the East.
Besides possessing the desirable qualification
of being extremely wealthy, this gentleman is
also the hero of regular hair-rising bunco
poker game. He lost $4,000 over table be-
tween o'clock one Saturday afternoon and
9 O'Clock the next morning, but kilograms
sent out to country banks early en- Monday
managed to stop payment on about half the
checks that he had given out during the
game. The funniest part of the whole story
is that with three men working him the VIC
tim himself proposed the game and intro
duced the three steerers to each other, all
of which was part of the play.
The gentleman was stopping at little sea-
side resort eighteen miles out from Los An
geles. and while there met man represent
ing himself as an official of the Canadian Pa
cific railroad on his way to san Francisco on
business. For two days the pair chummed
together. Another guest arrived from Chi
cago, who also made known the fact that he
was destined 10 San Francisco. 1t is superiiU
Gus to relate that the strangers were atfability
itself. Anxious to make things pleasant for
his friends. the old gentleman introduced one
stranger TO the other. seeing that they both
intended remaining at the hotel over Sunday
and then going on to San Francisco. The
newcomer was in the boot and shoe line.
Soon there was another arrival, and he
proved a high roller II was stockman re-
fp-ning to his ranch from market, and he had
a roll of bills as big as his head. He ordered
everything and paid in big bills. There
seemed 10 be nothing less than a tenne: in the
whole lot. II did not take him long to get
acquainted with the old gentleman. He got
acquainted with every soul about the place
before he had been there a night-all but the
Canadian Pacific man and the boot and shoe
man. When be did meet those two worthless,
it was through the medium Of the genial old
gentleman.
With such good fellows around him poker
game was the only result. and soon it IVES
going. The railroad magnate did not know
much about the game. the boo. and shoe man
hoped it would be a small limit. and the
stockman did not care hon high Il went-the
higher the better for him. he said. So tine
game started. 1t opened at 8 o'clock that
Saturday afternoon and was still going ut
the next day. Then it ended. The old gentle
man was out 500 in cash and 100000 in
checks. The stockman had not dollar OF his
big roll left, which was easily $4,000. and he
too. had given checks for 525.0 900. The game
had simply been ripsnorter and everything
went.
1t was the stockman who threw up his
hand. He said he could not stand il any
longer. The three agreed to give him re-
venge game after dinner, and so the matter
rested for time. When dinner ended note
was handed the old gentleman signed by the
railroad magnate, expressing regret that
telegram had been received necessitating his
going to San Francisco without delay and
hat the boot and shoe man had decided to
accompany him. With the wings of bird
the old man flew to the apartments OF his
fellow sufferer. the stockman. and recited the
facts within his knowledge. "Buncoed," said
the stocknan and thereupon a plan was
made to head of the pair. Telegrams were
sent out to all the country banks on which
the checks had been given, they being scat
tered 10 places where the players had de-
posts These the old gentlemen himself
a!ed at the telegraph Office. while the stock
grower hastened TO the police headquarters
10 invoke aid from that source.
''NUw let US wait till tomorrow" know
ingiy said the stockman. land we viii save
all tnat money and most likely bag our game"
Monday morning there was another sur
prise awaiting the now thoroughly surprised
old gentleman-the stockman was missing.
He had been In the deal bigger than any Of
the tho. His roll had been good only for
hundred or so. the balance being counterfeit,
and he had remained behind to keep the old
gentleman Off the trail while his pals cleared
ont.