The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-07-12
ways OF THE BUNco MEN.
Sheriff Belnap Tells How They
Cperate.

That the crooks of the country are
concentrating much of their attention
on Utah is = fact admitted by all well
posted officers Utah being the natu-
raj gateway for travel TO the west,
makes it a convenient place for men
with shrewd devices for getting hold
of other peoples money to operate
from, especially when travel is so
heavy, and when the Transmississippi
congress and Pioneer Jubilee are about
to draw immense crowds here. Where
the crowds are there will the pick
pockets, bunco men and fakirs be also,
and a description of some of the most
common sure thing games at this time
is especially timely. The description
of buncO, or bunko, below given was
compiled for The Herald by Sheriff
Belnap. an officer of long experience
with the criminal classes.
BANCO.
Banco, or "bunko," as the scheme is
Familiarity termed, is regarded as a
masterpiece of swindling, embodying
the ingenious resources CT the most ac-
complished confidence operator and the
artistic touches of the professional
gambler. 1t is a device conceived Of
a bright mind, fostered by the shrewd
est rascals, and from time 10 time i'm
present degree of perfection. OF the
manifold methods adopted by the
sharpers TO usurp the property of the
unsophisticated, buneo is regarded as
one of the simplest. It's apparent fair
ness as a game is designed to deceive
the shrewdest of mankind AS to the
origin of the scheme, opinions differ.
Some attribute as its foundation the
old English pastime of Eight Dice
hi ic RI n va
been the direct progeny of that equally
seductive species of American gamb-
ling known as faro" Bunco is more
likely an offshoot of faro" made
more fascinating by specious assur-
ances of a certainty TO win. So far
as known it was introduced in this
country about 80 years ago and became
a favorite pastiTle with the miners ana
SPECTATORS of ~ilifornia. Amid these
conducted more on the plan of a game
of chance and was devoid of the en-
bellishments now so essential TO its
successful operation. Variety was de-
manded, and as new forms of gamb-
ling sprung up the banco people were
forced to seek fresh fields for their OPP
erations For awhile the steamboats,
of the Mississippi afforded rich har-
vest, but the gamblers became so bold
that they were shut out. Then they
came east, locating in the larger cities.
New York, with its cosmopolitan pop
ulation, proved good point for oper-
atoms, and it was in that city that a
man named Brown, regarded as the
king of confidence men, located. He
had amassed considerable money in
his gambling ventures. Gifted with
boldness and cunning, it was not long
before he had almost a monopoly of
the business in Gotham and was sur
rounded by as pestilent a gang Of
swindlers as ever infested a civilized
community. Many refinements upon
the crude methods of the west were
necessary to entrap victims in the
east, but the sharpers were equal to
the emergency, as is attested by the
fact that they have numbered among
their game judges of the courts, men
eminent in other professional pursuits,
and staid merchants who abhor every
species of gambling. Tempted by the
ease with which large amounts were
obtained. scapegraces of good
family connections adopted the scheme
and proved to be the most successful
in the application of its principles.
Chicago is believed to be the head
quarters of the operations, but
the organization has ramifications
throughout the country. 1t is clique
with powerful financial backing. The
haunts OF these men into which vic
tins are lured are, as a rule, furnished
in a substantial manner. and every
thing about the place denotes 4. BUSH
ness like air. 1t contains all the ap-
of a first-class commercial /
house and each article of furniture is
displayed to the best advantage. The |
idea is to impress upon the victim the !
thought that the house has sub
stantial backing. This description re-
fers more particularly to tine higher /
order of such institutions. Those who /
fish for the smaller fry have no neces- /
sity for such expensive bait. The OBJ /
ject is to land gull for once within |
the portals of such a den he is robbed |
outright if he cannot be induced to /
chance his money on the game sug-
sested. Four men usually constitute |
working force. One of the quartette IS
KNOWN AS THE "FEELER."
It is his business to find victims. For
his purpose he will lounge about
hotels and as soon as a likely looking
stranger registers the operator will
make it a point tc obtain all the in
'orTnation he can about the guest.
These facts are given to a second man,
ermed the "patterner." This fellow
5 the star operator, part which de-
Tolves uDon a well-dreSsed, genteel
-oung man, possessing considerable
and presumption. He is
'emaIkablv well posted, in fact
immature edition Of an encyclopedia.
/ is imperative that he should possess
upon ! variety of subjects
n order thar he may more easily land
lis game. AS soon as the feeler i'm
,arts to the ''patterner" the name and
address of the person chosen for the
-acrifice the patterner consults the
Bank Note Reporter, or some other
publication containing information
.bout the town from which the
tranger halls. The Bank Reporter
will furnish him the names of officers
# the banks, should the home of the
gulf contain any. Failing to preyi-
,uslv post himself about the mans
enclw townsmen,
VIE PATTERNER WILL RESORT
TO OTHER EXPEDIENTS.
Another of the men will act as a
cout for the fourth who plays the
art of banker, and whose work IS
5ntfned to the banco den. 1t is the
atty of the scout to keep the banker
-rised Of the movements of the
tner sharpers and notify him upon
he approach Of the ''patterner' with
is zane.
When everything is in readiness the
cheme is conducted in this wise:
The ..feeier' approaches the stranger
n the street, and if he has not previ-
usly learned his name, will warmly
reel him as Mr.. Hudson or some other
anne Without giving the man
nance to correct what is apparently a
ase of mistaken identity on the part
f the enthusiastic young fellow. the
alter will continue to ply the stranger
18th questions about the welfare OF
l,s- and that nprSOn IN CenterVille