The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-09-02

aKoRaE v. aANKNa.
and was mndo in consideration Of 81.
Hankins says tho transfer is bonn fde. md
thnt no is penniless
Race tracks, 1t Is said, havo been tho
most unfortunate Investments Of the ono
time leader OF the Chicago sporting fra
ternity. He has lost heavily In ovsry rnce
track venture he engaged in and dates tho
beginning Of his fall in 1891, when no be-
came ono OF tho founders Of the Garfield
race track. He estimates his loss on tho
Garfield track Mt e58, 900, tho amount for
which he stoo> guarantor on tho lease
with Mr.. Mcdonald. Mr. Hankins puts
his loss on the Harlem venture at $40, 600
and counted up S56, 900 that had been
sunk in the sands ut tho Sheffield track.
Strictly speaking, MIR. Hankins said his
troubles wero caused by tho hostility Of
the state Legislators of Illinois and Indiana.
Previous to these unfortunate expert
ences he had suffered sevoro revcrscs
through the systematic and successful Of.
forts Of the city officials to shut OF gam
bling In Chicago. His two "clubhouses, I"
as no called his gambling places at 1874
and ia Clark street, put $4,000. 900 in
circulation annually, and no lost heavily
when tho doors were closed, for he Ind
T
Since gambling hns boon stopped he has
lost 81, 500 month on his two saloons.
Tho three Hnnkins boys-Al, jeff and
George-came from respectable parontage
George Is at least 80 years old and not tho
oldest OF tho trio His boyhood homo was
on farm near Aurora, Ills, whore he
was born. At one Hmo In his early lifo no
learned the harness trade, and with his
brothers absorbed great deal Of knowl-
edge about stock farming and the care Of
horses.
After the war they became gamblers
and experts at that Al Hapkins was the
Leader, tho business man, tho COOL oalcu-
lator and the hardheaded keeper of his ow n
money. JEFF was lame. He had been in
1ured In stage coach accident, which
shortened ono leg. He died in Chicago
some two years ago. George, according to
the estimates OF the many acquaintance
he has, wns the least capable Of the three
IN business affairs. and they point to his
alleged failure Ee an evidence Of how quick
" he was parted with tho money made of
the tin bucket brigade" He hos been
known far and wide as an "old woman"
sambler-a superstitious, crafty gambler,
who shuddered every time his house
lost 1t is told Of him that after he opened
% lbs Clark street ho had above the gam
ping apartments q private room OF his
cwR When tho games were in full blnst,
he came down stairs and watched their
progress. Az soon as he noticed that the
tables were losing any considerable sum OF
money for him he would Mt once 90 up
stairs and change his clothes. This act, It
was supposed, would change the luck of
the place
The thres brothers were big men phys-
tcally, anable, quiet and averse to q phys.
ical encounter with any one. In starting
their gambling operations In Chicago, and
~ which they arc popularity supposed to
nave realized In the gross at least 81, Oo0,-
QUO, the three brothers divided. AL and
Jeh opened at 119 Clark street, tho resort
which afterwnrd became Varnell's, q gam
bling houfe for business men and the up-
per ton of society. The appointments Of
: the rooms were fine, the bar was we'll
equipped, and no money was spared in
providing for the comfort Of patrons.
George Hankins opened in Madison
street common resort for the "tin bucket
brigade and the "pikers" Up the stairs
to these plainly furnished rooms, where
comfort was comparatively unknown,
went the bricklnyer the young clerk, the
carpenter, the teamster and the boy Just
out of the high school Little money was re-
CURED to play, and the chances Of winning
were few. 1t has been charged for years,
and not successfully denied, that while
y aank!ns ran this kind of game there and
afterward at 1874 Clark street no man
who ever won $50 or 500 In the places
was permitted to play again. he was sim
ply barred. Such a system as this made
the profits enormous, despite the tremen-
dous expenses incurred. These expenses
In tho main, IL has been generally believed,
Z went to various city administrations and
police officials Of the early days, who
winked at gambling when the blinking
was we'll paid for. 1t was tho policy Of All
{ AEnEins and George v. never to have
trouble with the police.
Tbcy hnd another policy which also COM
snsEdei them to occasional gamblers, and
! shat wus Of settnnG with laser who ann.