The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-05-25
Z LECTRICIFY IN GAMBLING.

From the Electrical !.ev!ew.
Apropos of recent expeditions in the
daily papers of the manner of dishon-
estly winning races through the agen-
CIV of the electric current, we NAV re-
call several of the ingeniously con-
trived cheating devices used by gam
bier, sharpers and others for the pur-
pose of carrying on their nefarious
traffic. Among the devices secured by
the police during u recent raid on a
New York gambling esta blishment
there was one device for stopping the
passage of a marble at a certain point
which could be changed at the will
and discretion of the operator in
charge. Each compartment was regu-
larly numbered and had underneath il
a small lsecreted electromagnetic, the
wires from which were so connected
with spring contact points placed I'M
der footboard, which in turn was
situated and hidden on the floor, that
the ball could be arrested in its prog.
ress at any point.
Here, though. was apparently diff
Guilty in connection with its successful
operation. While il is true that the
ball could be stopped, the suddennes.
of the stop would Immediately attract
the suspicious of the players. 1t was
evident that the stoppage must be per
formed gradually so as to appear nat
ural. quick glance at the wheel
showed the operator which compart
ment was the most profita bic one for
him. The ball slowed up. stopped and
he gathered in his ill-gotten gains
The gradual slowing up was pro
duced by successive number of weak
impulses sent through the adjoining
electromagnetic. thus retarding the
progress of the ball, which was com.
posed of an inner sphere of soft iron
surrounded by highly polished cellu-
loid coating. Great skill on the part
of the operator was, of course. required
to avoid detection But the men who
worked this scheme felt so sure that
discovery was impossible that their
very boldness and sudacity furtherej
their work Murder, however. will
out. and the secret was finally laid
bare to curious crowd.
Another device that attracted con
sidera bic attention was planned 10 de
ceive the most inquiring. A table wa.
devised, the top of which contained
number of squares laid OF similar to
chess board Immediately above the
center of the board was suspended a
light metallic ball by means of slen-
der silken thread. A compound me
ehanical motion at the top of tri-
angular framework placed immediate
" over the center of the board caused
the silk thread to take rather erratie
course. On the board were placed
number of statuettes somewhat similar
to chessmen. but all Of approximately
the same height The suspended ball
was started on its err3tic course while
the table was slowly revolved.
Bets were then made as 20 which
particular piece would remain erect
when all the others were knocked
down. Piece b. piece they dropped
until bat one remained and this one.
Of coHTse. was declared The prize win
ner- The game was even more audacicns
than the one above mentioned. but, IL I
anything, il vss more Ingenious
The way a which IL was made "a
sure thing, for ,he Possessors was a.
follows: Underneath each individual
square was rather strong electro
magnet. Of the north poles pointing
upward Zach magnet was Separately
eQnkossi 70 N adjoining room slzpA