The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1900-01-31
THREE CARD MONTE.
CAREER OF THE MAN WHO INVENTED
THE SMOOTH TRICK.


barrel of Money with ~. swim
diius Game aud D,ca ~ P"up~r.
Lew Houck was the inventor OF tile
notorious three card monte trick and
about the clcvcrcst card sharp IN the
world. uouck was well known In Kan
sas city, where he operated on aud
of for 20 years, making the city
sort of way station on his trips east
and west.
The last time Houck was here he had
lust returned from European trip.
He produced papers and letters TO
show that while he was In London he
was feted and dlned by some Of the
upper crust OF English society. lie
had pissed there ns "A wealthy aud
travelled American. lie had letters.
too, from Secretary Olney. Secretary
Carlisle and other leaders Of the Amer
lean political world which recommend
ed him In the highest terms not only
10 the American representatives
abroad, hut to any friends of the writ
ers who might meet him. And these
letters were genuine. Their authentici-
ty could not he doubted. Houck had
n wny OF getting entrance into the ex-
s.usive clubs OF Washington. Philadei-
phin. New York and other cities, and
II, his role Of gentleman OF leisure" he
had so imposed on men OF high stand.
Tag In the nation that they thought
him all he represented himself to he
and gave him the letters OF introduc-
tion that helped him TO fleece the arts
tocracy OF Europe.
Houck invented the three card monte
game before he became OF age. This In
a trick with cards that has feeced
more people out OF money than any
other game ever practiced. The trick
is played with three aces. two black
ones and one red. II Is always played
with a confederate to help. or "stall,"
for the game. The operator takes the
three cards between his fingers. show
Ing them to the victim. and then shut
fies them about and drops them face
down upon the table, offering to bet
any amount Of money that no one can
pick out the red ace.
At this point the operator turns his
head a moment to spit or to speak To
some one in the crowd behind him.
and In that moment the confederate
picks up the red ace card. shows II to
the victim, "crimps" the corner Of the
card and slyly lays It down again, ap-
The operator again shufiies the three
cards and throws them upon the table
face down. There lies the card with
its crimped corner. The victim sup
poses, OF course. that II Is the red ace
and bets and picks II up to find that II
ia black one, and he has lost his
money.
The operator, when he picked up and
shuffled the cards carelessly the sec
fingers removed the crimp In the red
ace card and put similar crimp In a
black ace card. That was all there
was to the trick. Houck worked II for
years In hotels, on billiard tables. at
fairs and circuses and on railroad
trains and steamboats,. He taught the
trick to Canada Bill, a noted gambler,
and the two worked together over all
the country. They paid thousands up
In the old days for the privilege Of
working the game on trains, and they
made money.
Later, when nearly every state In the
Union passed laws aimed directly
against the working Of the three card
monte game. II became improbable
and was given up by Houck. But about
Iat ttt,.., tt,1 En rlt 4, ,nx-
invented the "three shell" game, which
was even more productive than three
card monte. and Houck took II up. The
three shell game Is modern improve
ment on the ancient thimblerigginG
game that was worked at English fairs
for many years. The old way was fol
the operator to crook his knee over the
heaC of a cane that stood upright OF
the ground and move small seed
around between three thimbles on toI
Of his leg, Offering to bet that no on'
could pick the thimble under which
the seed was hidden.
The lesson taught by the lives an,
deaths Of Houck and Canada Bill ant
all the rest Of their kind is that ii nevel
pays to be dishonest or to live by one,
wits. These men may get great SUM
of money by sharp practices In tn,
course Of lifetime, but they all di,
poor, and most of them die in prison
Canada Bill. who worked with Houcl
on trains out of Kansas City ant
made probably $1,00O,OO0 in his life
died a pauper in the almshouse II
Lebanon. Pa. and is buried In a pau
per's grave. Houck dropped dead oil
the street in Durango. Mexico, and hi
widow In Ohio had to solicit aid to ge
his body home to give 1t decent burial
kansas City Star.