Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1915-08-12
Blind JOHN
CONDOR DEAD
Ruled Gambling Fraternity With
an Iron Hand.

Chicago, Aug. 10.--The death OF
"Blind" John Condor at his home
here yesterday, removes one OF the
most interesting characters Of the
sporting world in this country. Con-
don ruled the gambling fraternity
with an iron hand for over 80 years.
There was not one to dispute that
authority. Although he was heartily
hated by some of his followers, his
mastery was complete and his genius
for organization everywhere recog-
nized. s
Although he amassed several for
tunes during his lifetime. only a care
full appraisement of his estate will de-
termine whether he died rich or a
comparatively poor man.
His property consists principally OF
race tracks in the United States and
Canada, some OF which are OF doubt
full value at present.
There is something peculiarly west.
ern in the story of Condor. While 1t
is the story of a gamblers life with
its ups and downs, it shows Condor
to have been a man Of unusual bust
ness abality, which if applied to what
is generally considered legitimate
business, would have made him a f.
nancial leader Of the country.
A poor country boy living in Log.
ansport, Ind, he began life as a bal.
Der. He attracted the attention Of
Sam Doll, a well known gambler, WHO
took an interest in him. Doll intro
duced Condor to the owner of a
no hnI,cn IN INUoncn0rf Ha
soon developed remarkable dexterity
as a dealer at faro, being n OF the
most expert in the country. He was
never known to lose his nerve even
when pitted against old timers.
In the early SOS he came to Chica
20 with Doll, and together they estab
lished a gambling house here. Chi.
cago was then only a western town.
and gambling had not lost its western
character. Everything was wide open,
with Simon O'Donnell as chief of po-
lice. ~
Those were the days Of Harry Var
nell, Pat Sheedy, Hankins Brothers,
Mike Mcdonald, Harry Perry and 9TH
ers.
Cali gamblers knowing the ms and
outs of the game as well as anyone
knew them at the time" said an old
timer, growing reminiscent, "but they
lacked what Condor had-the genius
for organization. Condor was the
first man to realize the possibility
of organizing police protection and
using it to control the gambling bust
ness Of the city. This he proceeded
to do as soon as he had established
himself.
"He became the central fixing
power. No gambler could do bust
ness in Chicago without consulting
him and giving up a share Of his bust
ness. He divided the city upon nat
liral and racial lines; named the dis
tricts in which crap and stud and faro
were to be permitted and the lieuten.
ants who were to be in charge OF
each. In certain districts he allowed
high class gambling palaces, in which
he was always a silent partner.
HE was a partner in The Store
1888 Clark street, and the House of
David where many a fortune was
gambled away in a night. In all the
others he a given an interest. Any
one who refused was put out of bust
ness by the police power.
'He soon became ambitious to
branch out into other lines and he be-.
came a bucket shop operator and was
interested in tape games. Bill Skak-
Ell. an old gambler, invented the clock
game. That was where fictitious quo
tations were made on the market.
The method was simple, the quota.
lions being printed the night before
the market actually opened and the