The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-08-20
PUNCHED STEAMSHIP GAMBLER
TALE OF HOW PASSENGERS ON
KAISER GOT DRAFTS BACK.
Fine old Scrap I'm the smoking Room and
Threats OF wireless Call for the
Police Brought out Notes Given to
Leyy-NO Evidence OF Unfair Play.


One of the passengers on the last trip OF
the Kaiser Wilhelm III. told yesterday some
things which seemed to explain why Capt.
Hogemann of the Kaiser wilhelm III. did
not take more stringent action against
Maurice Levy, the passenger who was
accused Of swindling his fellow passen-
gers in card game. According to this
mans story. the charges against Levy
were all based on the general suspicion
that he was too lucky. No one would
offer to present any conclusive evidence
that his luck was reinforced by skill az
manipulation of cards. Mr.. Robert L. Hill
of the United States Geological Survey
and young army officer were per-
fectly frank in saying that Levy had been
unfair, but they refused to back up the
charge before the captain.
Mr.. Levy, the consistent winner OF the
ships company, lost no time after coming
on board in organ zing 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, within 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 to count that moment
lost when he was not promoting some
gambling enterprise. Within . day or
two after We started, Mr.. Levy had won
all the ready cash that Mr.. Hill and the
young soldier had,
He signified his willingness to take
their drafts, and they went on playing him.
He got draft from Mr. Hill for something
like $500, and ono not quite so large from
the army man. They got together and
came to the mature conclusion that MIR.
Levy was altogether too lucky and that
they had been skinned They told him
so, and he laughed at them and minated
that they were poor losers. they went
to the captain They said that they would
not definitely charge that Levy was
skin gambler, but that he had won from
them In such large quantities and with
such consUmmate ease that they had a
deeply grounded belief that he was not
without great and dscreditable 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
OF hers 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 a
Gentleman's word|
"The young army officer apparently had
not that confidence in MIR. Levy's state
ment which Mr.. Levy demanded de
thought and talked with some OF the older
and wiser passengers and thought some
more. Then Mr.. Army Man cornered
Mr.. Levy in the smoking room.
al want you to give me back my draft
said he
81 haven't got your draft said Mr..
Lew. Didn't | tell you tore 1t up"
you did remarked the young man
coldly, but that doesn't necessarily mean
that you did
Just So observed the young man.
And he reached over and slapped Mr..
Levy SO hard that the chandeliers ratified:
then he poked him one in the ribs,
-'As I remarked before he said, while
want my draft back. II can't get 1t back
will take what satisfaction l can out OF
your hide That was only the beginning
wait minute, said Mr.. Levy.
"He went to his stateroom and in few
moments came back with the army officers
| Oratt, WnlCn ne wi =
| Hill rose in his wrath and made 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 If the other mans hadn't.
! Then Mr.. Hill and the Marconi operator got
| their heads together, and between them they
caused Mr.. Levy to believe that unless he
gave that draft up before reaching New
| York harbor there would be small regt-
ment of Inspector McClusky's men waiting
for them down the bay. MIR. Levy came
up with the Hill draft.
"Mr Hill had lost about s25 In cash, as he
believed. unfairly He made some effort
| to get that back when the ship docked in
| Hoboken, but there was no way, apparently.
In which he could bring any sound charge
against Mr.. Levy. 1t was the something
doingest trip, though, that ever was,
After Mr., Hill and the others had made
their complaint the captain caused placards
to be put up in the smoking room warning
passengers against professional gamblers
| These notices were put up late at night after
! Mr.. Hill had retired. Some hilarious
spirits who we're staying up late thought
| it we'll to take down one of the placards
and attach it to the door Of Mr.. Hills state
room 1t was further embellished with a
border of playing cards.