Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1903-02-21
STEAMSHIP TAKERS.
Cheating card-Players Who Fleece
Passengers En- Route
1'~nvei In Pairs and Under the 3uise
% Men Of Money rravefinx fer
rsenssrS-A rciice omeials
Account.


accurately 10 estimate. but
Scarcely 8 big ocean liner which en-
joys q fashionable vogue reaches port
either on this side Of the Atlantic or
the other without furnishing a tale OF
sigh gambling carried on during the
GRIP in the smoking room. writes
New York CORES pendent Of the Tri- /
bune.
4 great many OF these tales END also i
with statement that there was more /
or less suspicion Il not actual proof /
OF crooked" play. and the number OF |
Instances would be much greater x |
j, were not for the fact that the VIC
tins are selected with discretion. and
are IN the vast majority Of cases men
who would rather lose 5 few hundred
dollars than face the publicity which
would follow their accusation OF IN
fair play The police know nearly all
the operators who fleece ocean pas
scnge-s IN the smoking rooms. but are
, seldom able 20 put them where they
belong This Is owing 20 two res-
sons. one % which Is the 6ifficulty 81
getting a complaint made against the
rSscals while within the jurisdiction
Of the metropolitan police The other.
and = more startling reason. Is the &C
eusstions from Capt. Titus. the chic
/ OF detectives. who saws that many OF
the stewards CT the liners stand IN
with the sharpers. even carrying
supply OF marked cards. and the
/ po-te-s CO the same on the railway
lines
The -bisokleg- players are divided
into two classes. --6eepwster gam
blers" CHE steamship operstors) and
the cross road fellows" (the railway
train ranCs). II both cases poker -
the principal game. the stronghold.
although other games may be resorted
%. BY way Of variety, when the suS-
picions of the victims are aroused
These nen are al capital entertain
vrs. They are the lie and the soul
pf trsvel-6ulle6 company. They dress
well and look well-better than they
CO in the police pictures. where they
appear under the stress OF disadsan-
tageous circumstances, and IL the
easy. good comra6erie which prevails
aboard ship. Il il easy for them 10 get
acquainted with the iovial good fel-
low type OF man who makes the
ezziex, victim TO fleece. and the one
least likely 20 ~squeal- When the oper'
alton has been completed
John Il Allen assistant in the bu
reau OF records al the New York poic'
heacquart<rs. has made = study Of th'
gamblers.
ave are glad % have an opPortnnit,
Of airing thik matter and OF waruin.
the travelling public he remarked III
other 6ay- --Of course. the publ
+, won't heed The warning. but we can
help that Some fools seem 70 enjo
beirx Heeced. i IS only once in
: while thz; we get = 'squeaL' an
where one victim complains hundred
Go not Abop, year ago the pres
dents % the steamship lines indulge
in some talk about stopping the Swii
ding games. but ! don't think an,
thing came Of 4 but talk One OF u
suggestions made then might well /
carried ous Il was that the detscti'
bureaus OF this and OF other countri'
should furnish 20 the steamship lin
! photographs OF the professions cal
EharpS. simple bus effective, for eas
steamer should have De 'rorgeE e.
: Iery-'
The hrst thing these profession
gamblers CO When they get ahoa
shfo. or aboard the train they fe
more secure aboard Ehip)- j. 70 becon
!, acquainted with the crowd. They &c
- orally pass for high rollers or kPor
j. or <or frst~rate BURNERS msn with
load OF money. who are OF on . vac
. ton and willing 20 pay for little ~
One Ct them some time ago repi
4 -...l - H. fellow "a rSeugers Ii
be was the king Of the Klonoike' q
many ~ them believed St. The 81
feet % . little game was introcue
bv them cautiously, by suggest
more than plain hint
y nay state that they never VIC
4. sfneiv. They work generally in g
=. pies and only ore 81 them is VIM
= IN. .,sher cuE4ex the luck and ~
- | d<rs 81 his pals winnings just az Ia
. as any % the real victims Go. and
-. draw The crowd Of the scent nt
- Fuspeet anything wrong. But he
a expert dealer. and on his finn
Sesix his partner winE every time.
:. th~ows him the cards. you see, evei
- he himself has nothing but ooota 4
- eu<h or al ace high band Of rags
oddities. The dealer in the work
-. eonbination never wins the mon
The rogues will take turns about
xfnnfrg-or will work IL juoscSou'
a. 70 win without arousipg All
re cson TOO sacdeniy. II the nnan Z
a<.1. were 20 win every tine. then
:" ero~d would ssu 'foui' rxhs aw
or put who "a going 20 suspect the p
'cAf sr,<,c<nt dealer. who has given h