The Meeker herald., 1909-11-27
NO POSSIBLE SHOW TO WIN
Once Famous Gambler Tstis How the
0rssnhorn 10 systematically

| A little white-haired, black-coateA.
bespectacied old gentleman, who looks
and 10 the generalization Of benevo-
lepce. that ID Mr.. John Philip Quinn,
once notorious ~ the "princs Of Amer
ican card-sharpers." but for the last
40 years . reformed man. Mr.. Quinn
IL now appearing ct st. Georges hall
in his most interesting performance
consisting Of an exposure Of the meth
DDS BY which sharpers dsspoii their
victims. This u what he says:
was born and raised, brother. IN
the southern state Of Missouri In days
when slavery was stu In force, ard
my father himself owned many slaves.
Twas wild lad; nothing could keep
me at school, and BY tho Tina was
Is was the associate of-professionsl
gamblers and sharpers. and before
very long had definitely thrown In
my lot with them. had an accurssd
skill at sleight Of hand. and for IS
years lived BY my wits and ON the
money Of fools. or suckers" ~ No
call them.
Was lever caught! was prose.
cuted II times ~ . professional gam
bier. but those were days when
graft" was rampant, and always
managed 70 buy my freedom.
But in the end ! went to gaol, aud
the Irony Of It, for IN oRense Of which
I was entirely innocent. was 40
cussd of compltcity IN . gosd-bfick
svindle. but although / WAS. By no
means new to this form Of fraud, and
had worked 1t successfully more thar
oncs. / had nothing to do with this
particular case. went to prisoa for
II months. and during that time ~
came changed man.
My little boy died while was iA
prison. Although / was ., sharper
loved him passionately and his loss
broke me up. When / came ont Of
prison went to the house where I
had left my wife and children, only To
lind them gone.
The woman Of the house did mot
know at FIRST for whom was inquir
lug. and then she said:
You mean the lady who had . little
boy that diedr' e. IS
YES" said, "and want you To
show me his grave. have something
TO settle with my conscience there"
Then she recognized me snd said:
why don't you live to be At 10
meet him In another place?"
Il will," said. and for the last -
years have been trying to get ready
10 meet my boy"
went OF to Chicago, took room
In . basement, and started writing my
book, Fools of Fortune" which such
famous men - Dr.. Talmags and Dr..
Lyman Abbott. editor a the American
Outlook. to which Mr.. Roosevelt Il
contributing. have described - the
best sermon against gambling they
sver read. F7f'o
One day I got wire from brother
sharper. tslltAg me TO come to u.
Louis quick-ehers was - horse for
$1,000" which, Of course, meant .
sucker to b sucked dry.
took no notice. and then one day
IN walked my old confederate. what
are you doing hare, John?''' said he. I
told him and he scoffed. He tempted
me with the promise Of 1000 for my
share, II l would stand In with him,
md he offered me \ hundred dollars
down. sasfssl 5s=
AZ had about so cents in the world
just then. that 500 bill looked mighty
big and good. but I put 1t away, and
IN the end he shook hands, the tears
standing in his eyes. and insisted ON
my taking $40 to help me along. The
last heard of him he was doing ten
years, poor fellow. Well, since then,
brother. have devoted my life to
stopping people from gambling BY
showing them how Impossible It IL for
them to win against professional gam
blers.
Now, here's . point: At my psr.
Torrance people know that 1 am
cheating, yet they can't detect how II
IL done. But when . man goes gam
bling he thinks the game IL straight or
he wouldn't play--he 10 not looking
for trickery. and what chance thon
has he Of finding It when, ~ I say.
people right on the stage, Watching
me a. close a. they can. can't see how
cheat them.
Well. brother. I guess my times up
never, never play cards with stran-
gers, for you are sure to lose. That 10
what We call cinch.-Pearson's
wseklx