The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-04-22
NOVEL GAMBLING MACHINE IS FOUND Is Used in Redemption of To-
 bacco Tags PULLMAN IS THE INVENTOR He Is Arrested In Washington and the Courts Will Determine Whether
 the Device Is Against
 the Law.
PULLMAN IS THE INVENTOR

Washington April 21.-(Speeia1)-A de- vice for the redemption of tobacco tags although having many features of a lot tery, has been in operation within the shadow of the capitol for the past six months. If legal, it is locally a good thing, and if it could be operated through the mails, the late Louisiana lottery would sink into insignificance. The de- vice is the invention of George M. Pull man, who utilizes it to advertise his brand of tobacco which is sold exclusively in this city, and he owns and operates the only machine of it's kind ever made. The scheme as described by MT. Pullman. is as follows:
 We will place in this cabinet from time to time total of 33 330 checks, made pay able to bearer, ranging in sums from $10O to 15 cents. We will divide the total number of checks into five lots of 666O cheeks each, and with each lot we will put one check for $1OO, two for $50 each, three for $25 each five for $10 each, ten for $5 each, fifteen for $2 each, one hun dred for sA each, 200 for 50 cents each, 4OC for 25 cents each, and 5924 for 15 cents CdNns | lt tlltChS dIt lfltll SIulleu up and numbered, and then placd in the cab inet ready to be paid out.
 "To redeem the tags. on the basis as above mentioned, it costs us an average of 80 cents per hundred, and for those who don't want to sell their tags in lots of thirty, we will buy them in lots of one hundred or over at so cents per hun dred."
 Looks Like Lottery.
 "All this looks very much like a lot tery," the United Stats Tobacco Journal will say, but MT. Pullman has, up to date, at least, avoided police interference by an ingenious plan. Our silent tag buyer he says, is a novel device in it. self, which holds about two thousand bank checks, and delivers one at time, by the unlocking of the drawer; the draw CT is provided with a register which re- cords the number of times the drawer has been opened and the check number must in all cases correspond with the number as shown on the register. thereby ena- bling us to tell every one what we will pay for their tags"
 In discussing the plan, the United States Tobacco Journal points out that the cus- toner has but one chance in ten of ob- taining more than "A cents for thirty of his tags, which is the regular redemption price at the rate of so cents per hundred. while he has nine chances in ten of re- ceiving less than 24 cents, yet the speeu- lative tendency Is strong that ninety nine out of one hundred customers prefer to take the chance.
 In conclusion, the United States Tobac- co Journal will say:
 Pullman Is Arrested.
 UA1I fbic onpeare worry barpaIase o~d plausible, but tnere are certain features of press the local authorities. It is repre- scented that each lot of 6660 checks con- tains certain checks calling for $25, $50 and $100 but do they? For that the cus- toner has only Mir. Pulman's word. Again, the machine holds only two thous- and checks at time and what Is to prevent him from placing therein two thousand checks, each calling for only 15 cents? Nothing further what is to prevent him from placing the s10O check, the s50 $25 BIO and $5 checks in success sion, and when these numbers are reach- ed, going to the machine and extracting them? Or. why put them in the ma chine at all? There is not a shadow of doubt that if the mails were used the scheme would be squelched immediately by the postal authorities, and District Attorney Jerome would jump on 1t wi,l both feet If it were operated in New York
 MT. Pullman has been arrested on charge of permitting gaming on his prem ises and his case will come up in the police court. He will be defended by former United States District Attorney Henry F. Davis. and the case is attracting great attention because it will be test case" for all similar devices.