The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-07-21
.CQHfY'S FAK|RS PU7
OUT OF BUSINESS.
Police Closed All Sure Thing"
Games, and all Army OF
Cappers Was Idle.
10 GET OUT lNJUNcTloNs
Captain Langaln Declares That
Swindling Under a Show
License Must Cease.

NEW YORK. July 2o.--A roar mighty
as the surf. but mutfled. went UP from
the proprietors of scores of sure-thinS
games yesterday when Captain Langan
and his detectives invaded the "Bowery'
and the side streets at Ccney Island
and ordered everything that looked
suspicious to close UP. The order was
obcyed, but the fakirs of the peoples
playground CRASHED their teeth and
they vow revenge
Graft" was easy at the island Tor a
while early insthe season, for as fast as
the police stopped one form of Fleeing
the public it opened up around the cor
ner. Then. when the police became
really energetic, many of the proprle-
tors secured injunc.ions from the SUI
preme Court restraining the police from
Interfering.
The knife and ring-board men, with
the owners Of the art galleries and
Kindred games were put out of bus
iness because it was discovered that tha
operators were in the habit Of work
ing in cappers who would win all the
big prizes, while the public got nothing
but a good general idea that they were
up against a skin game.
Under protection of the injunctions,
the games opened again. but the police
kept them closed yesterday and last
night. The operators relied largely on
human nature to protect them from
the police. Usually the cheating was
done on a small scale, a dollar or two
at time and a few complaints were
made. Here and there the fallirs made
what is called "a rip" which means
that the victim was separated from
everything of value he possessed. Care
was exercised in the operation Only
the most gullible victims and those
known to have money We're selected
for the sacrifice.
A show license was obtained. An or
binary SHOW" was opened with glarine
banners to indicate to the passing
81 throngs that within there was som,
wonderful exposure of the opium hab
or a forbidden dance OF be witnessed
Two reasons are behind this. The faki
figures that man who is so guileles
as to be attracted with such bait vii
easily fall a. victim to the furthe
schemes to be unfolded on the inside.
Having taken ten cents admission
and given little in return, the fakr
put the second test to the victim by
offering another and a more attractiv,
show for a quarter. If the intended
victim swallowed the bait. and sait
he was willing to pay to see more,
the fakirs know that he was not onl.
good grist for their mill, but that II
had money to spare
They call the second show 9TH
Rlow-Off,' and once inside the work o
getting the victims money is fast an
usually sure. crowd of capper
gather around and profess great inter
est in the operation of a four-ball Tiv
oil game This is at all times unde
the control of the OPERATOR and an
parently offers great odds as an ii
ducement. Advantage is taken of til
cupidity of the average man, and whel
he expects to win big stake for
small risk, the victim always fine
himself poorer in pocket and no richie
In experience. For there are doze
ways of taking his money. and onl
one way for him to keep It.
Threats to get more injunctions wer
made last night, but the police fec
strong in their position that swindlin
and stealing will not be protected b
any court, and the wayfarer for a
least twenty-four hours found an limo
1 cent Bowery and a safe refuge from TIL
tcity's heat.