The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-07-21
HOW THEY PLAY POLICY.
More Than a Hundred Low Gambling
Houses In Richmond.
FULL DESCRIPTION or THE GAME
The Places are Conducted Openly and are
Easy of Access-An Effort 10 Calculate
the Odds Against the Player.

The passion for gambling seeks its
qualification in every conceivable device
and place. The most gorgeously appoint
ed saloons In the most favorable spots or
the earth, and the lowest dives in the
darkest holes alike, invite. according TO
their means and degree, the reckless pur-
suers of the gamblers Jack O'Lantern,
which leads them only to destruction.
How many places. both Of the high
toned" and on the "back-alley" order.
have been, and s1ll are in this city, is
known only to those who belong TO the
initiated-but the number Of the initiated
is painfully large.
The Times has obtained a list of the
leading gambling Of Richmond
the more fashionable places-but these
have either stopped their games. or are
keeping so dark that the business Is ap-
parently small. There are possibly few
places where faro is stiil played he.e,
but the game goes on without the en-
| thusiasm and immunity of former days.
POLICY.
There is one game. however. Of the |
! lottery Order-and by the way, lottery |
| tickets are still sold freely and regularly |
| in this c-ty-which certainly until a day |
| or two back was Wide-sple AZ, ana hau |
not lowered its brazen front, ana that IS
| sO-CaJled policy HOW TINS game IS
| played and whore and by whom Is un-
| known 10 q vast majority Of the readers
! OF this paper, but Wnen II is stated tnat
cut SaoO or 500 was made on ne clear
| every day by the operators Of ine game,
| and that all this was obtained mainly
| from negroes by o-ce1t plays tthouSh they
| are by 10 means the only Viotms), the
extent OF the evil may De imagined. FOR
several days OF the past week was
busy in visiting these places anu OD-
tanning Information about them. Iners
were between nfty and one huhurcd
policy shops in Richmond all located in
obscure places, but scattered about
manly in the central part Of the city
| generally in alleys-Or IN the rear OF
barber shop, where negroes are shaH-
ed.
When you find them they are easy Of
access and are conducted openly, at only
one place where 1 attempted 10 buy a
ticket was admission refused me.
HOW THE GAME Is PLAYED.
How is the game playedg Well 1t Is
| nothing more nor less than continuation
| of the system in vogue IN this state se'c-
raj years ago. and known as the Dismai
Swamp Canal Lottery; For snort, ~
was called by the tough, Wouid-De spoi"
YOU 'oi e go into Tie office" and call Tor
your ticket A., ,or
"M hats the numDtls8 ASKS lHV "'"''
You can pick any number you please
, from / TO IS. and put up a. much money,
not exceeding 80 cents as YOU wat ne
Known is S'eies." 1'hat is. by choosing
, | three numbers ranging from 10 - lhciu-
| sive, there being % numbers, OF Mllcn
twelve are drawn. For d s's oI mr.
| numbers the minimum charge is C'"sa'
| Ii the three numbers cnosth say ., 80 .,,
S A-cOme out in the twelve hhiiDtls ai,e u.a~
from the jug YOU get $40. Onls .M'i,
Numbers are drawn from the jug at
) each drawing, ana the uIa"inss, "'S
The numbers are placed on niue uali, y, I,
= or marbles, very much on the o1usl "a ~
the balls used in ths game hilvHn a., 90
..iuo uool -" Every time one Is uIdN ID
l 80 tt.re IL another revolution OF the
~ "rig' 10 shake up the remaining mum
- bers - 80, tho turn-
You can bet your cents on tne rIr,,- ni,ra-
. M of any one number IN the tWeiIe s.,'f nat't
> Hers to be drawn out OF the seventy -'ls ~ =,
: and if you guess right YOU az fpSb are
: III YOU select two numbers anu ~ -. a,
+ drawn In the twelve yOu sel
s,a1 select three numbers, ana an tii ''
are drawn, you get SlV .,.,ivating
Now. that looks easy ana capsa, p,.,,,i a''ii5 ffs
e ard so IL H.. for the man WHO -
@ .ane hut what chance has the NlcliHi .
L have had II calculated a M. l.S.''" ,i 49,
II tells me that Wlen Us me aeainst hin
s 90 40 fo / lie also says thal IL "M"rr, W.
l. require more time than he @ eoui" gatns, @i,
e TO figure out the other chaliS'a a,ssetrt
The rlaver Lut they increase IN s'oss' ,,ir
10 ea1 ~ irr,,ssression and the chances OF WI
'o "a Sai Pib7 b,7 the choice Of three numbers ~
- ni,fS,t ( o0 or 6O0 10 !. and that ls ''
r. fsvorlte play, the triple "s's'
a THREE GAMES II rIcnMoND.
OF c,horo are certainly three tand perh,aip
0- - dietinct establishments OF polC.
" npo,,e5 i'm Richmond, and oach WIN n'i' ii,,
fre1ches one, perhaps the most st"i "a
K dons i'm the city. IS opgateu ~ a ',,,, an,
AZ named Berry whose heaul luai .a 'rhe nrN
~ a., tbe alley behind the Theatre. lhe ~, r.,
ne i,.t III w ,mrcrtant operator is a man Mhoi
ld ,hev calf Lloyd, but who is said 70 n.., ~,
Sc ~ tdnestbcr name. His drawings are CO.
a., fncted on Eighth street. near taIyi ~
~ ..Str1 ie operated by a man nalheu 1i
OF stsrke whose headquarters are Over
,y Ioiored barher-shOp on SeNentcci.tIl 9D q,
ly freely opposite the scale-house -
We Starke's book" is popular, as my ~ !.
-, sormaut said mostly VIA de uleoiM' IN, >,
III he run de bes' book In town loI ui'"'
m 0'fI ft dia. not take me long 20 ind the plac'
". - .ha game was discussed. MY his
NAV was made at a room IN itaI 81 II.
haircpairing shop adjoining the TO
be ,,,adson ON Twelfth street. Thefc We
)n dnlv Two men In the room "Hr
III vnn1 with a perfectly bald neau, 81"
n .,oilstache and dark eyes. fte - S"oi
r. starure and compacty built me ~, ~
no was an old man. Win s,ec
he heard. slightly gray, we"ii"b sloucl
y. rimmed speclacles. ana ~ m
~ ~ IIa was looking over some OF a.
Nh srawings while the baldhealet III. ma ,yci
.lv sued IRE tickets 10 me. No questlpO,"' w
~ So me sav3 what nun Deis a., o,
rs The ticket is written IN violet inA' a.
Sc, is as follows: