The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-09-14
1T IS A DISGRACE.
People Fleeced at Fair by Gam
bling Games.
Sure Thing Thing Men Are
Reaping a Harvest.
NO MOVE TO STOP THEM
Under Eye of Fair Association
Ply Their Trade.
Immoral Shows Also Hold Forth
on Grounds.
NO MOVETO STOP THEM

The management of the fair must
be held responsible for the conditions
on the grounds.
There are more than dozen of the
rankest kind of sure thing games run
ming wide open right under the eyes
of the police on the grounds and
there is not minute of the day that
some of the patrons of the fair are not
robbed. It is a humiliating admission
but it is true.
Yesterday roughly dressed
stranger stepped up to one of the
games and began playing and in less
than 20 minutes they had stripped
him of $57, every cent that he had
with him, and all that prevented him
losing more was the fact that the
friend who was with him refused to
loan him more, even though the
friend admitted to the capper who
stepped up and urged the loan that his
friend was good for the amount as
their farms Joined. A well known
business man who has place on
Kansas avenue was seen to lose a con-
siderable amount OF money yesterday
afternoon on the old time spindle
game which cannot be beaten.
There are all kinds of games on the
grounds, most of them of the sure thing
kind which there is no possible way of
beating. One of these is the bird cage
and is just to the left of the main en-
trance to the grand stand and directly
under it and there one may see a crowd
of cappers and a few of the unsophisti-
Gated from opening time until late at
night, when it is game as old as the
Shell game and the ball is at all times
in the control of the operator. The
cappers play and are allowed to win
large amounts to encourage the unex-
perienced to play Once the sucker is
hooked it is rare thing If he gets away
with more than 25 cents, for the outfit
is an artistocratic one and will not ac-
cept a play for less than that amount.
just east OF the grand stand is a pin
and ball game where the pea runs
through a row of brass nails and runs
down into q little pocket where if you
| light on the right number it pays all
kinds of odds for the money risked.
This too, is known as a sure thing
game and is absolutely controlled by
| the operator and there is not a chance
in the world for any player save cap
per to win.
There are a dozen or so of these
games being operated on the ground
and the fair management seems to
sanction it for the police all know the
nature of the games. There are but
four of the city police on the grounds
and they have been informed by the
management that their duty is to look
out for pickpockets and fights. The
association has police force of their
own of 25 members on the ground
who are sworn in as deputy. sherfffs
and act under the direction of ex-
Chief of Police Henry Steele. There
| is little story in connection with the
appointment of Steele as chief OF the
police of the grounds. John Wilker-
son, who is known as a man who can
| not be fixed by the gambling profess
sion was first appointed and at the
| last moment the change was made and
4 Cd ~, ysfe r71o
Mr.. Lee, who is one of the fair man.
agement was called on by one of the
combine which has control of the beer
and fakir concession of the city and
fair and told that Mr.. WiIkerson would
not be satisfactory and the change
was Immediately made and Henry
Steele appointed in his place.
! Gambling is felony in the state and
| punishable by a sentence in the peni-
tentfafy and it would seem to he the
duty OF the city and county authorities
| 10 Sut q stop to such rank form of
gsrcsa ling exist on the fair grounds
/ ever though the management of the
/ fair association does seem to sanction
/ it. There is one excuse offered for the
| fair association by those in position to
know. Tt is contended that the games
are run by local talent and that all Of
| the money is not taken away from the
| city as would be the case IL the games
were run by outsiders. And there Is
plenty to bear out this theory as many
/
gamblers about the city and in the
| throng about the games may be seen
| other equally well known figures who
pose as sporting men.
| The fair association is permitting
the rankest class of sure thing gam
bling to run wide open. In the
paImiest DAYS of Dodge City and Abb
llene it would have been worth a mans
life to try to run a game as rank as
| the most alluring of these. There are
| as many as a half dozen of the
spindle games running and one ope-
| rator even has the temerity to invite
| the unwary to play his game with the
six sided blocks. There is no ad-
Elective in the English language whicn
can fttingly describe that condition
Ethat exists at the fair ground It's
/ rank raw rotten, and a lasting dis
grace to the city, state and particu-
/ larly to the management of the State
Fair association.
| One of the so-called attractions of the
State fair was the Oriental Theater
with its dancing girls. This was one
| of the filthiest, vilest shows imaginable
! until the proprietor ran away with the
| money There was not a feature on
/ the inside of the tent that was not filthy
that low, disgusting class of women
who are without shame, and the dances
| that they do are too disgusting to bear
! description. 1t would probably have
gone on to the end without molestation
i If the proprietor had not put an end
| to it by taking French leave.