The Washington herald., 1907-09-08


that brought the gamblers into disrepute
was the loss of $3.50 by the young Earl OF
| R0sslyn, while on his way from this city
70 England In the Cunarder Etruria five
years ago The earl was acc0sted by
three men, who posed as weIl-to-do Amer
ieecs. They were soon playing cards for
all kinds Of stakes. and Lord Rosslyn was
the chief loser. He was afterward sued
on a check for $50 given, It was said, IN
part payment Of his gambling debt Two
attorneys were the plaintiffs, but DOC
Owens was believed TO be behind the
suit Lord Rosslyn won the case, becaus.
there had been no consideration for the
check
About tine sag-.z time DOC Owens
had his legal fight to prevent his pic
ture being placed in the records OF the
police department. He said there was
no reason why it should go there, and
its presence injured his reputation.
Judge Leventritt decided however that
no one could object 10 having his pic
ture at police headquarters, provided Il
was not used for other than official pur-
poses.
On German Boat.
In the following year the name Of DOC
Owens" was coupled with the story Of a
quarrel over cards on the liner Kaiser
Wilhelm der Crosse that nearly ended in
a tragedy. 1t was said that Doc
Owens" was on the passenger lists un-
de- another name. Another passenger.
c. A. Partene. OF this city. was reported
90 have lost 1880 at cards He publicly
accused the man with whom he had been
playing OF cheating and Of being a card
sharp. Beside himself with rage. the
gambler seized Partene and dragged him
toward the rail as If to throw him
overheard. The deck hands knocked
down the gambler and thrashed him Sc
verely before he would give up the quar-
rel.
Then came the beginning OF the end. so
far as the Older card shaTps were con-
cerned. They became 50 well known that
il was next 10 Impossible for them 20
work the passengers u the big liners.
Besides Doc Owens" there were Joseph
Kahn. OF Clay, Familiarity known as
Paper Collar Joe" whose name was con
nected with those OF Adam Worth
Charles Becker. and Pat Sheedy IN the
theft Of Gainsboroughs Duchess Of
Devonshire" in London IN 1896; Baldwin
=
dian prison on a charge Of theft: Fred
erick Williams. sheetwriter and wire-
Taper; Black Mike Big Jim" Stro-
snider. who served five years in the New
Jersey State Prison on charge Of false
pretcnses, and whose name appeared ia
the story OF the embezzlement Of SI2, COO
from DT. John A. Harris. a broker. at
the Gainsborough apartments two years
ago. and Cecil A. Brackett, who com
bined gambling and the business OF a dia-
mond broker. The names and pictures
Of all these men We're placed In the po-
lice archives where all who chose hight
read
Then younger and unknown gamblers
appeared on the ocean liners Accord
ing 70 rhe police the well-knOwn card
sharps dropped out, but some OF them
employed new men 10 work for them
while they engineered the games.
Deutschland Incident.
An incident on the Deutschland two
years ago serves as an example Of the
many told of the newer type. A game
OF poker was started in the smoking
room and lasted for three days without
4 break Doe owens" was q passenger
on the liner. but took 10 part IN the
game. Two Of the players. however,
had been recognized as card sharps from
Chicago. and the wiser passengers would
not play.
At last the game lay between one of
the experts and New Yorker. The
losses Of the latter footed up 10 nearly
500. when he opened a jackpot. In
q
of .ings Certain that he would recoup
for his losses, he raised, and raised again.
Then he called" the other man His
opponent threw down three aces and a
pair Of jacks That ended the poker
games fCE the voyage with a charge Of
The pack had been stacked;
there were FIVE Jacks.
Month after month such stories are
repeated. Only the details and the
amounts Of losses differ. Seldom Go such
swindles reach the courts or lead to the
punishment Of the offenders. The victims
are 10th to prosecute. They decline TO
give their names. They win not admit
that they have been heeced.
Scotland Yard has a long list OF
swindiers who work On the ocean liners,
many Of them using the sea voyage as
the opening wedge for a final coup in
hotel in London or on the continent
There is Frank TarbO. q Mexican crook,
who was driven out of New York a few
years ago. He is a loud-mouthed fellow
with a villainous countenance, aud poses
as a Mexican who wants 10 sell a mine.
Another is Arthur Pierce, an Australian
by birth, but known here as English
Arthur" He usually pretends that he
is a rich American cattle dealer going
to Europe TO see the sights. The way
he manages the Kings English aids in
the deceit. Others on the Scotland Yard
lists are Frank Carew. an Englishman
Of good family, who passes as a gentle
man; ''One-armed owen" clever card
sharp; James Walsh; Alex Hassell, who |
was with Tod Sloane when he assaulted /
a waiter at Ascot, and two Englishrnen. /
Percival" alias William Sinclair, a mild /
eyed, bald man, with a thick underlp. /
and Hugh L. Courtney. thin faced and |
with a melancholy aspect. "Dago Frank |
and Charles Fisher, two New York
burglars, have also turned their attention /
to steamship swindles.
Publicity the Cure.
Since the steamship swindIes have been
given widespread publicity. these crooks /
usually coAilhe thelf elLoltS Whlie ABOARD 4
ship to 'spotting' their victims and /
scraping an acquaintance that leads to |
a big game in London or Paris. In I
well-dressed and affable as they
are. usually good story-tellers, and with /
accounts of themselves that defy criti- |
,ism, the professional crooks have many
chances to learn of their intended vic /
inns. The appearance Of the traveller s.
trunks, his dress and style Of living aid /
he swindler in making his estimate The /
smoking room offers opportunities for 1
There is always more or /
ess gossip about conspicuous passen- /
gers. When the Swindier has sCraped an /
it is easy to lead the con-
--.-..-. ...--------