Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-08-25
OF CHANCE
At SARATOGA YET
SMALLER FRY ARE GETTING IN
THEIR WORK AT MOTOR
lous RESORT
Lid is On as Far as the Big Fellows
Are concerned-MovabIe Layouts
Are the Rule and Numerous Crooked
Games Are Found.

sodl dtOSd, IN. :, aug. af.-- i Nv ~ u
down at Saratoga, but there is no lack
of opportunity for those who are will-
ing to take chances on the honesty ol
the proIrietors of half a dozen private
games in active operation. The down
fall of the big gamblers has caused the
small fry to come out boldly and seek
their prey Crooked faro boxes and
"loaded" roulette wheels are the order
of the night and runners for private
games" are busy accosting possible
victims in the streets and at the race
track. Provided with easily movable
layouts these gentry move from one
private room to another as soon as
the police grow watchful.
This is new condition. Of affairs
for this village has been long known
among sporting men as the place of
Square" gambling. The police are not
able to suppress these movable"
games, for they are as elusive as a
will O the wisp. But no sensible man.
no matter how eager his desire for
play may be, will visit these dubious
private games.
"cappers' Approach Everybody.
Every man who is known to be will
ing to gamble was approached yester-
day by "cappers" for games conducted
by men unknown to Saratoga before,
cities. In the majority of cases the
invitation has been declined, but sew
eral instances are reported In which
dishonest gamblers have succeeded In
inducing men to visit their places,
where the victims were relieved OF
their ready cash.
The. hand OF the "grafter," too, is
stretched out on every side. A man
we'll known as liberal and wealthy
scarcely had registered at one Of the
prominent hotels when he was accost
ed by stranger who claimed to have
met him in London A Subscription
book" was produced and he was re-
quested to make liberal contribution
to publication which the stranger
declared he represented and which he
said was being managed by ''newspa
per men" The solicitor was told to &c
about his business and the proprietors
Of the hotel were notified of the oc
currence.
This was only one instance Of man,
which have been reported, and black
mail has been collected in several In
stances. Local detectives are trying
to find these men, whose attempts t.
levy tribute have been backed b!
threats that unpleasant things would
be printed about those who refused.
"Hayseeds" From New York Bite.
4 Operators of the shell" and STRAP
games also got to work in the streets
and some of the "hayseeds" from Man
haitian bit as eagerly at the bait a!
your Uncle Reuben when at the coun
try fair Whenever policeman wa
sighted by the lookouts and capper
the operators vanished, to bob up sc
renely in another spot and RESUME
their profitable occupation.
i One Tammany worker was caught
to the delight Of his companions, ant
when he appeared on the porch OF
leading hotel he was greeted witt
shouts Of "Hey, Reub!"
!. There are scores of private poke
and bridge whist parties in the villag
and a professional gambler says visit
ors should be wary of joining thes
gatherings unless they know the play
ers, as there are more Short card" es
perts in the village than he has eve
seen before. OF course, the police
! not know these sharpers, but the Pr
kerton men do, and they have save
some lambs" who were being led t
: the slaughter. Pinkerton men ais
warned two western thieves out c
town today, one of whom had an il
ternational reputation as hotel rol
her