South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-11-05
ATLANTIC GAMBLERS
REAP RICH HARVEST
FROM EASY VICTIMS
Polished Villains OF Steamers
Wiring Thousands From
Unwary Travellers.

PARIS. Nov. 4-Ints ha4 ..eu a
eaa harvest year FOR the traasat-
la1ac gambler.
or oil CROOKS ne ls the safest from
capture H.e polish ezreis tlat off
Firth avenue millionaire or Fitch
avenue hotel clerk RE Isl accepted
.a society. Hc knows how o.
caarm women. 20 interest men
This accom- pIlehed bandit makes
his victims pay dearly but what he
takes ne takes pleasantly. He gives
amusement end excitement IN re-
turn Ie Is never rude nor violent.
like his cousin. the burglar. He
would not soil his p.7k hngernalls
operating Jimmy. nor stain his
clothes with chlorOf0rm. The
thought OF Tightening any one
would be entirely repeiiant 90 him.
Dozen 70 ship.
II IS estimated by Francis Clarke.
writing IN the Paris Mid. that every
large liner that crossed the Atlantic
during the last SIX months-that is.
during a period when a record num-
Der or Americans made the trim TO
Europe and returned 70 America
carried with Il from ak TO 10 pro-
fessi0nal gambler
The profit made by these para
site. luxury-loving card sharks is
estimated by the same writer az
$4,000 a day
The total winnings OF q successful
gambler, then, who made 10 trips
during the entire season and played
four days on each trip totaled one
million dollarsi
But it Is not the custom or most
gannblers 20 limit their game %
Jew days on each voyage. They get
10 card table early in the trip auc
stay there until the steamer docks.
Then. in Paris. in London, or .n New
York they crest" from their Iabors.
Some may Play hand now and
then IN the bar-rOOms OF first-c.ass
hotels. But most of them confne
their activities 20 shlDb0ord. where
their victims have little distraction
from the temptation 70 play
Some Have Families.
some gamblers. 81 IS reported
have wives and children in their
home port and return from mys-
terious business trips % resume
a place "a respected members of
their communities.
Almost all Transatlantic gam
biers are men q education. often
far more so than the wealthy men
they make their prey. They must
be always on the alert, ready TO ac-
count for themselves legitlmate,y
20 the authorities. to the ship COM
panies. to persons in every walk of
"a ~ HrrHa ar
senee and amassed Information.
Above all, they must be prepared
10 outwit their sworn enemy, the
secret service men.
Many OF the profession have the
science OF intriguing themselves
into the confidence of their victims
worked out TO such n fine point ac-
cording 70 Clarke that they sue
coed In making the acquaintance Of
their dupes several days before the
steamer sails. Getting the Intro
ductlon" IS the hardest part Of the
fob. tt involves the need for a
large acquaintance, q great amount
Of nerve and an ability 70 lie dex-
terously and with im7 giuation.
Start Game Easily.
After the introduction the invita-
ton 20 play - a minor difficulty.
what Is there 20 do?" asks Clarke,
when one IS rich and bored and
there is only the sky and sea to
look at. except TO deliver oneself
body and soul TO the fascination Of
q game OF cards?'
The victim always believes that
his losses are due partly TO mex
perience. partly TO luck If his
faith waves he IS allowed 10 win a
thousand dollars or so. Then the
Il ocean seems bluer for a whi5e-but
4 soon becomes gray again.
More than one dupe. however. o.
the millionaire variety viii swear
up and down. even after he counts
his losses that the fun was worth
the price. Some charge Il UP 20 ex-
perience. but more 20 amusement
Clarke tells the story Of a very
rich American who made the ac-
Quaintance OF a professional gam
bier frst day out OF New York. Hrs
losses averaged $4,000 a day for the
six days Of the trip But the night
thu ship anchored I'm Cherbourg
Harbor the American hadn't had
enough. He stuck tc the bridge
table al night and barely made the
last boat ashore.
e.