The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-08-06
City, Aug. 5th, 1897.
MIR. EDITOR;
You don't cut any Ice. Enclosed find
slip. Good day. I'm off for Narragan-
ganseit Pier.
(signed) j. T.. ANGEL.
City, Aug. 5th, 1897

by The News this morning:
The letter gives Information that the
policy kings first name begins with J.
He is generally known about town as
Gene Angel. which goes TO show that
his middle name of Eugene is a favorite.
The communication also contained what
purported TO be slip of yesterday s
policy drawings.
Angel, 10 Is alleged, runs a gambling
place at Narragansett Pier. so that he COM
bines business with pleasure during the
fashionable season. His place Is resort
for men with sporting blood in their
veins, apd the play is high sometimes.
With luck against him at his summer
resort Angeli can afford to be daily
visitor at the casino because his Provi-
dence Pawtuckct Attleboro, Woonsocket,
Oineyville, Newport, Warren. Bristol, and
Boston business nets him a handsome In
come with no risk of any consequence
TO his personal capital
It's dead easy, so TO speak.
PROFITS OF MONOPOLY.
Twenty five thousand dollars year is
not so much, when you come to think OF
IL. Nearly anv monopoly will yield as
much or more If there is big demand for
the goods.
And the policy monopoly is "cinoh. "
IL may not be generally known, but
Providence is headquarters for Boston In
the policy business The policy men have
been driven out of Boston. They cannot
conduct business openly there rs they do
in Providence, so they do the next best
thing and come to this city TO make their
plans which are then carried out secretly
in Boston.
The policy hackers don't have to be so
particular here. They draw the Henry
lottery without any fear OF interruption
and the alleged telegraph dispatches from
New York or New Jersey giving the
fgures of the Kentucky" and tho
Georgia" lotteries are received just the
same as any other telegraphic business.
A good many of the policy sharps won :
have anything to do with the Henry
lottery.
FAITH IN TELEGRAPH FIGURES.
They have more faith In the figures
that come by telegraph.
Tho policy players come from the ranks
of the poor and that is what makes the
game particularly offensive. 1t oilers big
returns for small investments and once it
gains hold OF its victim its fascination
IL irresistible.
1t frequently happens that the victim Is
lucky" in the beginning and visions of
fortune loom up before him. In one lucky
stroke he has more money than he ever
had before at any one time, and It's value
fades before the ease Of getting 1t.
dis next play Is larger and to retrieve
mis- loss he dips in more extensively and In
little while his thought Is concentrated
OH getting his own money back.
1t SELDOM comes.
Every morning on his way to work he
stops in ut some convenient place and
leaves 10 cents, 20 cents. or such like sum
with slip OF paper containing tho num-
bers he fondly hopes will appear In the
drawings Hundreds of poor working
men do this every day.
The custom Is so widespread that these
policy sub-stations have sprung mp all
over the city. They arc located nearly
everywhere. They are in the barber shops
and the saloons of the main streets and
they are In frequented spots on the out
skirts.
FIFTY RUNNERS EMPLOYED.
About so runners visit these sub
stations twice day and gather up the
coin of the poor deluded people They
make record OF all tho plays and leave
duplicate slips rs a guarantee OF good
faith on the part Of the policy hackers.
This money Is taken TO the Union street
house. the Headquarters of tho runners,
where n record of the numbers Is made
and the big plays noted.
When this is done the cash Is taken to
the "oiilce [" 80 Custom House street.
There are n number OF places that dc
not come under the head of sub-station.
They are main offices. Places whero par
ticular individuals have headquarters
with their own runners and customers,
but they oil have Co make final returns
to the policy king who controls the
monopoly.
THEY ARE VICTIMS ALSO.
These chaps. of course, make more
money than the common runners who
are generally victims of policy. They
have played tho game until it has become
n part Of their ature and something from
which they cannot escape. lt IL disease
that cannot DO cured until the oppor.
tunity To play is removed. When they
cannot get money TO continue their in
fatustion they become tramps or policy
runners.
They are generally good men at the
business because they are well acquainted
with other victims and they are good
solicitors because before they were en-
thrallsd they were competent workmen
at trades or other legitimate business.
What matters IL II their families are In
want? Whether the children arc hungry
and barefooted or whether they are going
to the dogs themsetyesi
Perhaps they 90 realize their pitiable