The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1894-06-29
GAMBLING DEVICES.
ELECTRICITY EMPLOYED by sclEN-
TiFIc sHARPERs.

Descriptions "h Awv /
Thingsa-By Manipulating tho Current i
.ha Dea,er Can Select the Winner Every /
rime--rsut the Fools still Ret.
It Is a time worn motto that man Is
4 fool who attempts TO beat another at
his own game. Nevertheless there is q
and rich crop Of gullibles who
insist upon throwing their hard earned
money away in the vain and elusive
hone that a fortune is within their easy
grasp. \
The method is to them Of no conse-
quencs. They sincerely believe that the
means deserve the end, and with this
harmful and foolish idea in view they
state ON their downward career, fully
believing themselves competent to get
the best Of the sharper. But the sharper
is proud Of his name, and he does MS
hest to deserve his title. He generally
succeeds and then lies In wait for an
other victim. The sharper is cute one
md 1t seems almost pity that his en-
ergies are not put in more useful direc-
lions. His inventive ability Is far above
the average, and he contrives devices
which are maryels in their way; but as
Josh Billings tersely puts 1t, 1T u a
tlarned poor way.
Fresh in our minds are the develop
merts which resulted from araid by the
police on one Of the most prominent
gambling establishments.
Extraordinary devices were found,
and everything was conducted on ascale
of magnifoence and ingenuity that was
marvellous to behold. Electricity played
urominent part. In fact, everything
that could be done to further the aims
Of the gamblers in dishonest way was
carried out to point bordering on per-
fection.
There was one device for stopping the
passage Of marble at a certain point
which could be changed at the will and
discretion OF the operator IN cnarge
Each compartments was regularly mum, n,
bered and had underneath it small
secreted electro magnet the wires from
which were 50 connected with SPRING
contact points placed under foot
board, which In turn was situated ano
hidden on the fioor, that the pall could
be arrested IN its progress at any point
Here, though, was apparently a am,
Guilty in connection with It's successlu
operation. While IT Is true tnat tn'
ball could be stopped, the suodennes'
Of the stop would immeulateiy attrac
the suspicions OF the players. IL wa
evident that the stoppage must De per
formed gradually, SO as to appear nat
ural. A quick glance at the wheel show
ed the operator which compartment wa
the most profitable one for MIN I'D
ball slowed up, stopped, and ne gather
ed in his Ill gotten gains.
The gradual slowing up was BY sue
cessive number Of weak impulses sen
through the ADJOINING eiecuo magnets
thus retardlng the progress Of tne pail
which was completed Dy an ine
sphere OF soft iron surrounded py
highly polished ceiluloid coating. Urea
skill on the part OF the operator was 9
course required to AVOID detecuon. bu
the men who worked TINS scheme ~
50 sure that discovery was lmposslpl
that their very boldness and audacit
furthered their work Murder, howel
er, will out and the secret was mail
laid bare to curious crowd.
Another device that attracted consi'
cradle attention was planned 20 deceiN
the most inquiring a Table was q
yised the top o. which contained
number OF squares lald on similar
a chessboard- Immediately above q
center OF the board was suspended
Light metallic board Dy means of slel
der slliken thread a compond mecnal
ioal motion at the TOP Of trianguii
framework placed immediately over T.
center Of the board caused the 81
thread to take arather erratlc cours
On the boards were placed a number
statuettes somewhat similar 70 ches
men, but all Of approximately the san
height. The suspended pail was starS'
on its erTatlc course while the fabieW
slowly reyoiyed.
Bets were then made as to which pa
ticular piece would remain erect VIII