The Washington herald., 1918-12-15

dred dollars with him. besides hi,
more. He suggested that the minister
stake him so he could go TO the
rescue of the Kentucky drover
But | am minister of the gospel"
the stranger protested. 'and cannot
lend aid or sanction TO such an unholy
thing as gambling"
Its not gambling. it's robbery"
Skivington rejoined. Lend me your
money for a few moments only 1t
will be like going to the rescue of a
drowning man. II surely is not an un-
christian act to save a drunken man
from being fleeced by such a gang OF
cutthroats."
The Philadelphia preacher finally
consented and handed money to
skip" The latter played and lost, OF
course, Then Skivington demanded the
preachers watch promising TO win
back with 1t all he had lost and the
drover's money besides.
But that watch was presented to
me last Christmas by my congrega-
ton"
1 IAN the better" said the foxy
Skip" assuming benevolent express
sion, lit will be the means of doing
great service for helpless humanity
I'll win and hand you back your time
piece and money in fifty"
RaIded by ConstabIcs.
The preacher yielded and the watch
was put up against all the money
Skip had parted with since entering
the game. Just At that interesting
juncture there was commoti6n in
the surrounding thickets and four men
armed with shotguns burst into the
opening, completely surrounding the
gamblers and their victims
Virginia constables." Skivington
whispered to the badly frightened
preacher
Hands up. every DANCED one of
We" the chief constable shouted, lev
cling his gun at the group.
All hands went up while the consta-
bles gathered in the cash collateral
and paraphernalia.
Gambling I'm Virginia, ehr' said
the leader in a threatening tone. at
means a year in the county iaiI. be-
sides a hefty fine when we catch YOU
in the act. like this
The Philadelphia preacher presented
pathetic picture about this time. He
was as pale as a ghost and his legs
We're trembling violently.
This is awful" he said. II will he
expelled from my faith and exposed
In the newspapers as a cheat and A
gambler" And the poor man groaned
in agony as he realized his position.
The chief constable held a quick con-
sultation with his deputies, and then
turning to the group, commanded:
we won't arrest YOU fellows this
time. provided you will beat it, out
of the State and keep out in the fu-
ture. But I want you to beat it, on
the double-quick. You. mister preach
er man. in disguise. turn your head
towards Alexandria and don't stop
running until you get there. or I'll fill
your hide full of shot. Now. go il. -
The minister started at a brisk run,
while the constables shouted at him
to hurry up. Away he went through
mudholes. into marches and bogs, un-
til he reached Alexandria, and took
the train for Washington. When he
reached his hotel he figured that he
was out" Just s425 in cash and a gold
watch worth 5000 But he was 'in"
several thousand dollars in expert.
ence.
Afer the Virginia constables had
watched the flying form of the Phila-
delphia preacher disappear over a hill
top about a half mile away. they turn
ed to the monte men, Skip" and the
kentucky drover'' included, and
said:
Come on. boys. and Wen whack up
the profits"
Every last man of them, except the
minister, was a member of the monte
gang that had infested Washington
so long. The preacher was the goat.
Il am a man of God" he explained
later to friend, but the devil nearly
got me that time
Police headquarters was located at
the northwest corner of Fifth and d
streets northwest when the nests of
monte men and the resorts of other
confidence operators were finally
eradicated. The venerable structure,
which has an interesting history, is
still there. 1t is one of the landmarks
of Washington.
Only once after the Murphy
,OTeary- y-Skivington mob was put
out of business by the law was an at
tempt made to revive the once pros
porous swindling game. George Nc
Cauley, who had most unsavory rec
ord as burglar and all-around crook.
with several of his pals made an at
tempt to land" wholesale liquor
dealer from Chicago who was a visitor
here. The gang was rounded up by
the police and McCauley was sent to
prison. where he learned the trick of
whiting wooden ships and images
and placing them in bottles with
small necks. After his release from
jail ] met him in his old stamping
grounds. a public house at Twelfth
and c streets northwest. and quizzed
him about his attempt to restore the
5"three-card monte" swindle. He was
IN moody frame of mind. He said
Police Lieut.. Amiss had notified him
TO get out OF Washington and stay
away on pain of being .vagged" and
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