The Washington times., 1903-08-21
Passengers on Kaiser Will
helm II Saw the Funny
Side to Gambling Episode.
Were Not Sympathetic.
When the Victims Became
Suspicious They Com
PEELED Their Victor 10 Re-
n turn Their Drafts.

in the New York Sun" recentlv of the
adventures of Robert T. Hill. formerly
or the United States Geological Survey
and Of young army officer. who alleged
that they were swindled at cards by a
sharper on the Kaiser Wilhelm H. Mr.
Hill tried TO have Levy. the alleged
gambler. punished. but the New YorG
magistrates held that swindling on the
high seas did not come within their Ju-
risdiction. and Levy was dismissed.
Following is the Suns" account Of
the strange doiEgs OF Levy and the hard
luck OF Mr.. Hill and the army officer:
Mr.. Levy, the consistent winner Of
the ships company, lost no time after
coming on board in originating his first
game. Before the ship had left her pier. ="
said the passenger who was talking
about the matter yesterday. Levy was
cutting cards in the cabin for S. a cut
He announced himself $40 winner with
In an hour after the ship sailed.
Later he organized other games. He
was a general organizer of everything. :"
said the passenger. He took charge OF
the auctioning of the pools on the days
runs. He seemed 10 count that moment
lost when he was not promoting some
gambling enterprise. Within a day or
two after We started, Mr. Levy had won
all the ready cash that Mr.. Hill and
the young soldier had
Willing to Take Drafts.
s"He signiied his willingness to take
their drafts, and they went on playing
him He got a draft from Mr.. Hill for
something like S4OO. and one not quite so
large from the army man. They got to-
gether and came 10 the mature conelu-
sion that Mr.. Levy was altogether too
lucky and that they had been skinned.
They told him so. and he laughed at
them and intimated that they were poor
losers. They went 10 the captain. They
said that they would not definitely
charge that Levy was a skin gambler.
but that he had won from them In such
large quantities and with such consum-
mate ease that they had a deeply
grounded belief that he was not without
great and discreditable skill.
when the captain heard OF the
amounts that they had lost he at once
declared that he had no intention OF
permitting heavy gambling on his ship
and that he would insist that Mr.. Levy
return the drafts. the others had given.
He had Mr.. Levy up and demanded the
return OF the drafts
" I've torn them up, said Mr.. Levy.
-. 'Sure?' asked the captain
:. Sure. insisted Levy. can't you take
& gentleman's word?'
The young army officer apparently
had not that confidence in Mr.. Levy's
statement which Mr. Levy demanded.
He thought and talked with some OF the
Older and wiser passengers and thought
some more. Then Mr.. Army Man cor
nered MIR. Levy in the smoking room.
=" want you to give me back my
draft. said he
haven't got your draft. said Mr.
Levy. Didn't l tell you tore 1t up?'
- You did. remarked the young man |
eoldly. but that doesn't necessarily mean |
that you did
:, = You say I lie?' asked Mr. Levy.
p" Just So observed the young man
And he reached over and slapped Mr.. |
Levy so hard that the chandeliers rat
tied: then he poked him one in the ribs. /
=, AS l remarked before he said, while /
Levy was trying 10 recover his breath. y 4
want my draft back II l can't get :; 4
back viii take what satisfaction / can 1
put OF your hide That was only the /
q" Wait minute. said Mr. Levy
Worked the Wireless.
He went TO his stateroom, and in a
few moments came back with the army
officers draft. which he surrendered.
Then Mr.. Hill rose in his wrath and
made a charge. Mr. Levy had nothing
TO offer him at all He insisted that the
Washington draft which Mr. Hill had
given TO him had been destroyed. even
II the other mans hadn't Then Mr..
Hill and the Marconi operator got
their heads together. and between them /
hey caused Mr.. Levy to believe that an
less he gave that draft up before
reaching New York harbor there would
be small regiment 0: Inspector Nc
men waiting for them down the
bay Mr. Levy came up with the Hill
iraft
Mr. hin had lost about SIS in cash,
zs he believed, unfairly He made some
ebert 20 get that back when the ship
locked IN Hoboken. but there was no
way, apparently. IN which he could
fE!ng any sound charge against Mr..
Levy. II was the something -doingest
trip, though, that ever was"
After Mr.. Hill and the others had
made their complaint the captain caused
plaeards 10 be put up in the smoking
room warning passengers against pro-
gamblers. These notices were
Oul up late at night after Mr. Hill had
retired. Some hilarious spirits VINO
we're staying up late thought it we'll 10
take down one OF the placards and at
lach 70 10 the door OF Mr.. Hill's state
room. It was further embellished with
; border Of playing cards.