The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-05
POLICY AND ITS VICTIMS.
GREAT HARM DONE ~ NEW york
BY JHIS EORM OF UiMBLINN.

Fifteen Hundred Places Conducted with
Little Conccs imcnt-Instanc OF the
Ruin Wrought by the Game -tertninty
OF Losing No Deterrent Mrthsd Of
Playing Policy The hackers OF tho Game.
The great prevalence 81 policy playing In this
city and the opcnncss with which the sale Of policy
slips Is conducted under the present administta.
ton were clearly brought cut before the Mazct
Committee a, its session last Wednesday by the
testimony OF Michael j. Green who declared that
he had been policy writer Tor years, working
among the tenement jewellers and operating Tor Al
Adams the King oi the Policy Shops, and also
Tor William Murray II the ljUwcty. lie testified
that Al Adams had sixty Of seventy shops IN this
city and that they were practically free from the
interference Of the police. although he and other
employees were well known Ia the police. Ms was
also their business Michael Bcrg.n. who is re-
puted Ia he n brothcrin.law Of Chief Dcvcry
Green said WAS prominent man IN the policy
business Protection was all arranged for by the
head men II employees did get into trouble
he said Jimmie Oliver and other lawyers were
regularly employed ~ look out for them
When they read these exposures probably
most New Workers did not know what policy con.
sists Of or how it is played or who plays It, The
gtca, majority Of New Workers who have heard
the name NJ the game mentioned simply know that
Il Is some form oi gambling in which numl"rs
figure and the belief Is general that the patrons
oil the game are negroes The fact Is, however,
that fully half million white persons in this city
have become infatuated with the game, and play
II daily. MANY II the players are women Who
live in the tenement districts and spend almost
every cent they earn ~ playing gigs, horses
and saddles, the terms applied To combinations
Of numbers in the policy shops
People who are in u IuiIion to know, say that
there are at least fifteen hundred policy shops in
Greater New York, and that they are known TO
the majority oi the school children. Some OF them
are situated in the rear Of cigar stores some atc
ia uinsy little rooms in the top OF ten mrnt, some
in the rear Of saloons and some IN pumUcr shops.
No matter where they are found. they possess the
samr general appearance. for instance. II a per.
son goes int cigar store and finds swinging
door set in a mysterious luuhing rdri In at the
he may be pretty certain that there l. policy
shop there. tpnn opening the swimming door,
h" finds an ordinary sis'd room containing very
ltll, furniture. lie will lind the floor covered
with sawdust or whit" sand. lie will also find
a short counter with a Slan,inG desk upon II such
as shipping clerks use The man known as the
policy writer stands behind this desk writing down
the numbers that patrons int, nd to play. What.
ever he writes is maniloded on carbon paper.
Near his desk there is u bunch Of what are known
a. slips. These are small pieces Of paper contain.
in: columns Of figures supposed 10 represent the
most recent drawing in the game. The visitor to
the shop will also find table containing dream
books for policy players, lucky number books and
books made up Of summaries Of drawings that
have extended back for years. lie will also find
blackboard on the wall containing two columns
OF figures which are supposed To De the most recent
numbers drawn lie will certainly find at least
two dozen men in the place looking over back
CHI pf
In the next drawing. These mon will tell YOU
all about the game OF lottery policy. II person
has never played the game and goes into one Of
these shops the regulation players viii consider
linn a lucky chap and watch to see what numbers
lie is going to play, and they will make the same
play
Ill tel! you Just what the game Is" said tho
proprietor of policy cigar store In 81 reporter.
TO understand II thoroughly. however you would
have 10 engage in the game yourself. First
you mus, understand that II Is II lottery in which
only the numbers from one Ia seventy eight are
made use Of The lottery is supposed 10 be oper.
ated out Of town. Every day excepting Sunday
there is supposed 10 be a drawing in Kentucky
and another In Louisiana In the morning. as
the story goes, thirteen numbers are drawn from
a wheel containing the entire seven'y-eight
These thirteen are placed in column. one beneath
the Other and they may be any numbers from one
10 seventy-cght Then alongside oi the column
of the Kentucky drawings comes q similar column
of numbers supposed To be- drawn in Louisiana.
These two columns are printed on slips Of paper
and distributed among persons who have played
the game for that particular drawing. The mum
hers supposed tn b. drawn turn up In the policy
shon after . o'clock and are known as the morning
draw although posted in the shop at 2 o'clock IN
the afternoon After o'clock In the evening
the numbers supposed Ia he drawn IN the evening
appear In tho shop aud then the policy f'nds get
at work To he more explicit let me take you
right through the game You go into the shop
and select any three numbers you desire, provid.
ing they are from one Ia seventy eight You
write these three numbers on slip Of paper and
then bet any amour, Of money from one cent up to
81 900 with the understanding that IN case your
YOU receive odds 81 100 u / For instance, III
take three numbers now and writ. them on slip
OF paper in this style 10 20 81 Those three
numbers constitute a gig II bet 10 cents on
that gig | simply write the ten beneath the three
numbers selected and hanl II over 10 the policy
writer lie writes the three numbers On n carbon
sheet making a copy for me and copy for him
self Then he takes n rubber stamp and stamps
the date upon the piece Of paper he gives NE and
keep that in my pocket as receipt This iulc
ticket written out simply contains the following
..,................ ''''''''''''''',
Oct 10 ~ NJ
lD-i6-6. 10