River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1905-10-26

with? We are here among strangers
and not a cent in our pockets.
Whereupon the ''spieler" would hand
back enough to take them out of town
On the way up town the ''steerer'
would declare that an officer must be
found and the swindler placed under
arrest at once.
AS they rushed along they would
encounter on the street corner large
portly man, wearing marshaPs badge
(another member of the gang) and the
''steerer' would explain the incideni
and demand the swindler's arrest.
After asking all sorts of questions
and getting a full description OF the
swindler, the marshal would say:
"Well, l suppose you know the law
of Michigan about betting. 1t doesn't
make any difference whether man
wins or loses. If he bets at ALL ne
lays himself liable to fine and i'm,
prisonment, and as you men acknoWl
edge that you have been betting I shall
have to first lock you UP and then look
for the other fellow. You may con-
slider yourselves my prisoners.
OF course they would both protest
each offering to let the matter droI
rather than go to jail themselves.
But the marshal would say: u
can't afford to let you go. My fees in
a case like this amount to at least ter
dollars
If the ''steerer" was aware that the
victim had more than enough money
left to get him out of town, he would
begin negotiating a settlement, assur-
ing the marshal that all they wanted
was to get out of town and escape jail
When asked by the marshal" how
much they would give kim to keeL
quiet, the ''steerer" would offer about
half the amount he thought the victim
still had The marshal" would then
agree to settle for just double the
amount, and the "steerer" would ap-
peal to the victim, saying that lie him
self was entirely stranded, and would
point out how necessary it was tic
avoid exposure and disgrace.
Only too willing to settle, the stran
ger would offer to compromise. In
making the settlement the marshal
was always generous enough to leave
them sufficient money with which tC
get out of town The swindlers, Of
course, being as anxious as their vic
tim that the latter should get out OF
the way as soon as possible.
This game was what the grafters
Il =
On the evening of my first visit tC
Howard City l made my notion auc
ton sale from carriage in front OF
the hotel. During the day I had noticed
that several prosperous-looking mer
were stopping at the hotel, and won.
dered what was their business. While
arranging my street lamps and pre-
pairing my stock they gathered about
and in a friendly way inquired what
my name was, where / was from and
which direction I was travelling. Il
was plain that they were educated meT
of more than ordinary ability, but al
addicted to the excessive use of SLAMS
phrases. / asked the landlord who
they were, and he said they were al
from Grand Rapids, and were nothing
more nor less than confidence men.
That evening, when I mounted my
carriage to open my sale. there being
no crowd. one of these men said tC
the others. "Come on, boys; let's give
him 'front.'" and they gathered
around, apparently much interested.
Soon large crowd had gathered.
made my Introductory talk and opened
the sale. AS is always the case, OF
the first day in a town, one waited fol
the other, and things were little
slow.
Stepping up to the carriage, first one
and then another of these four meT
purchased a batch of handkerchiefs
after which l had fine run on hand
kerchiefs, and thereafter they would
be among the first to purchase every
new article offered.
After closing the evenings sale, anG
while Strengthening up my stock, the
whole gang gathered around with theil
pockets and arms hlled with goods
saying:
We'll, Johnston, didn't we plug
| your game all right all right?"