The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1894-05-23
THE BOSS GAMBLER
The Eventful Career of Steve Sealey,
of Chicago, Ended.
WON AND LOST FORTUNES
Death of q Man Who Was tho Dictator OF
the Sporting Fraternity Twenty
Years Ago.

| tue sprung FTACtTuIIy 1Weuly
| Years Ago.
"Steve" Sealey, the king of the St.
Louis gamblers twenty years ago, died
Friday in Chicago, unknown save to a
limited circle of his acquaintances and
to the oldest members of the city detec-
tive force. His had been a checkered
career, but his last years had been spent
very quietly.
Few persons would have imagined
that the quiet, we'll hammered manager
of the House of David restaurant had
been in his time sailor, soldier,
boss gambler, confidence operator, an
inventor, and in the evening of his life
was content to live on salary not
large and work hard to support his wife
and child.
Sealey was born in England of wealthy
parents. Left 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 he was to be defrauded out of his
patrimony, 50 he ran away to sea.
After serving several years before the
mast he came to America and enlisted
in the union army during the civil war.
He received wound in the leg which
caused him to limp slightly the rest of
his days. He was proud to say, how
ever, that he had never asked for
pension, declaring that he was able to
make living. Let cripples have the
pensions" he used to say.
After TIE 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 big place in Sixth
street, having associated with him Bill
Close, commonly known as Put Back
BILL" on account of his skill in replac-
ing in the deal box the xtra 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 Bilr 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 Cuisines" with
Appetite Bill" Langdon, who is now
chief of police at Tacoma, Wash.
About this time Sealey is credited
with having put up 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 it was thought 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 mitted shortly before
that in Chicago. Friends of Sealey
appeared before the grand jury and had
Jones indicted for the murder. The In.
diana authorities surrendered him on a
requisition ard he was taken to Chicago
for trial. There being no evidence what.
ever at the murder trial, Jones was set
free, the Indiana people having neg
lected to follow up the swindling case.
Sealey's experience as an inventor
was some time after his faro bank went
under. Possessing good education
and some mechanical genius, he de.
vised cotton picking machine, Sc
cured patent and incorporated COM
pany to manufacture 1t. Sealey him
self had no faith in the invention, and |
after time disposed of his interest for
a mere song. AS he took the small |
price he almost blushed to think how
he had taken advantage of the pur.
chaser. The cotton picker, however,
made the purchaser millionaire.
When this story was published in St.
Louis paper year or so ago Sealey
told friend 1t was just a sample of
his ups and downs.
Sealey gave Up the practices which
had mere than once brought him to
the attention of the officers of the law
some years ago. He married a St.
Louis woman of education and good
family and had daughter whom he
was anxious to educate He went into
real estate ventures on a small scale,
and In one way or other managed to
support his family in some degree of
luxury. In his later days he played
the bank only occasionally. When he
had spare IS or $40 he would some.
times run 1t up to $500 or $500, bat
would seldom stop before the last
check had been won back to the house.
He had all the generosity of the typl-
cal sporting man, and when the wants
Of his family had been provided for