The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1894-05-24
THE BOSS GAMBLER
The Eventful Career of Steve Sealey,
of Chicago, Ended.
WON AND LOST FORTUNES
the Sporting Fraternity Twenty
Years Ago.

-~N''S oN''Di~A' WV fSaio NV blCd
Friday in Chicago, unknown save to a
limited circle of his acquaintances and
to the oldest members of the city Getec'
tive force. His had been a checkered
career, but his last years had been spent
very quietly.
Few persons would have imagine
that the quiet, we'll hammered manager
of the House of David restaurant had
been in his time 4 sailor, a soldier, a
boss gambler, confidence operator, an
inventor, and in the evening Ct his life
was content to live on a salary not
large and work hard to support his wife
and child.
Sealey was born In England of wealthy
parents. l. # an orphan In his youth
his education was undertaken by an un-
Gle who was his guardian. He expected
after completing his college course to
study medicine, but his uncle, he
claimed, doled out money with TOO
sparing hand. The youth got the idea
that lie was to be defrauded out of his
patrmony, so he ran away to sea
After serving several years before the
mast he came to America ard enlisted
In the union army during the civil war.
He received wound in the leg which
cause him to limp slightly the rest of
his days. He was proud to say, how
ever, that he had never asked for a
pension, declaring that he was able to
make living. Let cripples have the
pensions" he used to say.
After the war he went to St. Louis
and became gambler. He was admir-
ably adapted to that vocation by his in.
variable even temper and his GOODNESS
under all circumstances. About 1870 he
had attained the proud position of die
tator in the sporting fraternity of St.
Louis. He ran a big place in Sixth
street, having associated with him Bill
Close, commonly known as "Put Back
BILL" on account of his skill 10 replac-
ing In the deal box the extra card which
he had pulled when dealing "brace. >"
He was also Interested with Jim Mooney
In a gorgeous saloon with sporting
accessories attached.
For half dozen years he was on the
top wave of prosperity. Then fortune
ceased to smile on Sealey. He and "Put
Back Bill" had to turn over the deal
box. The bank broke. The partners
showed their versatility by taking up
the profession of confidence operators.
They worked the gold brick and other
schemes with varying success, changing
their headquarters to Chicago. They
were associated In "businessn with
appetite Bill" Langdon, who is now
chief of police at Tacoma, Wash.
About this time Sealey is credited
with having put up a clever plot to
secure the liberty of friend named
Jones. The latter had been arrested
for gold brick work al La Porte, Ind,
and the evidence against him was so
strong that 1t was thought a peniten-
tiary term of at least ten years stared
him in the face. But Sealey came to
the rescue. There had been a mysteri-
Gus murder com nitted shortly before
that ia Chicago. Friends of Sealey
appeared before the grand jury and had
tones indicted for the murder. The In.
diana authorities surrendered him on
requlsition and he was taken TO Chicago
for trial. There being no evidence what
ever at the murder trial, Jones was set
Tree, the Indiana people having neg
ected to follow up the swlndling case
Sealey's experience as an Inventor
was some time after his faro bank went
inder Possessing 4 good education
md some mechanical genius, he de-
ylsed a cotton picking machine, Sc
cured patent and Incorporated a com
,any to manufacture it. Sealey him.
'elf had no faith in the invention, and
litter time disposed Of his interest for
mere song. AS he took the small
'rice he almost blushed TO think how
lie had taken advantage of the pur-
chaser. The cotton picker, however,
made the purchaser a millionaire.
When this story was published In a st.
-ouis paper year or so ago Sealey
old friend it was Just sample of
lis ups and downs.
Sealcy gave tp the practices which
lad more than once brought him to
he attention of the officers of the law
ONE years ago. He married a st.
.ouis woman of education and good
amily and had daughter whom he
vas anxious to educate. He went into
cal estate ventures on a small scale,
nd in one way or other managed to |
upport his family In some degree of |
ixury. In his later days he played |
he bank only occasionally. When he
ad spare SIS or $40 he would some
ines run 1t up to 5000 or $500, but
'ould seldom stop before the last
heck had been won back to the house.
lie had all the generosity of the typi-
al sporting man, and when the wants
his family had been provided for
'ould spend his money with the same
rodigallty as when he had been the
Ing of st. Louis gamblers. II he had
ut one dollar he would give rs cents
1t 70 an acquaintance whom he be-
eyed to be in need. He was a genial
ompanion.