Omaha daily bee., 1898-06-17
SKIN CANES STILL RUNNING
Bluff on Part Of the Police Turns Out a
Flimsy Farce.
SURE THING GAMBLERS HAVE THEIR WAY
Pin Puzzle and Horse Race Gambling
Devices Allowed TO Flourish
Wide Open ON North
sixteenth street.

Through "a not over vigorous prosecution
on the part Of the city attorney and the
police Jake Cash, arrested a few days since
as one Of the proprietors Of the skin police
protected gambling game at 314 North Six
teenth street, was discharged.
1t was said by the city prosecutor that
there was no evidence to show that Cash had
a hand in fleeing the patrons of the game
and to make this fact plain Charles Studor,
steward at the Dellone hotel, who was de-
frauded out Of $40, was placed upon the
witness stand to testify that Cash was not
the one who robbed him. AS he was not
acquainted with Cash and did not know
OF his co-ownership lin the game he could
testify to nothing against him. He did,
however, know that he was robbed by the
dealer for the game. No effort was made
by the police to connect Cash with the
game, although they arrested him on their
own knowledge that he was one of the pro-
prietors OF the game. None of the horde
of policemen who knew of the games ex-
istence and who aided in the opera bouffe
raid on it and others a few days ago, were
placed on the stand to testify as to Cash's
connection with the game. These officers,
who are always on hand to testify and
make black the character Of some petit
larceny alleged criminal, were not in evil
dence at the hearing.
Games Go Steadily On.
The other gamblers and pikers arrested
with Cash will be given their hearing on
the 21st.
In defiance of the mayors mandate Chief
Gallagher is allowing the skin games to con-
tinue in operation. The little bluff he made
by raiding the games on the 18th checked
them for two brief hours. AS soon as the
gamblers were released on bond after their
arrest they hurried to their joints and re-
sumed fleeing the unwary with more vigor
than ever. In fact, at 314 North Sixteenth
street a giant negro with a calliope-like
voice was placed outside the door to adver-
tise the game. Before the raid affairs were
conducted with some secrecy. Now secrecy
is thrown to the winds. Since the raid the
game at $40 North Sixteenth street has
been dead, its proprietors stating that they
did not want to take the chance of con-
Quoting a gambling game where the police
protection did not wholly protect. The
gamblers, however, at 314 North Sixteenth
are willing to take the chance with the
police.
One of the owners told a friend that the
police had accepted money from him for pro-
lection and he wanted the goods delivered,
He said he intended operating his game in
defiance of every authority.
To make up for the revenue lost by the
closing of the games at $40 North Sixteenth
street the police have sanctioned the open.
ing of a skin game at 215 North Sixteenth
street. This game is a new one, but {
player can lose his wealth as rapidly as HI
can against the pin-puzzle game. The
game which is new to Omaha is known a!
the "horse-race game" A miniature rae,
track is shown, on which is placed a scor,
of diminutive horses and their riders, tn
horses being held in place by wires runnin,
. into the body of the machine. Bets ar,
laid on the horses. 1t is possible to manipu
late the horses SO that the horse that |
played the heaviest will lose except 70
the cappers. Like the other game,
barker" chosen for his fitness to delive
an eloquent Spiel in a robust voice, i
maintained in the street in front of tn
place.