The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1922-10-20

are. as a rule, two of these cars, one
for each section). In the privilege
carr are tables on which crap games |
and poker games and roulette wheels !
are operated. Altho coffee and sand /
witches and pies and ham and eggs, !
ETC., are sold in this car to any and |
all of the circus employees or at |
taches, from canvasmen and "razor- |
backs" (the men who load and IN
load the train to performers and
grafters, whisky is also sometimes
sold, and the privilege car" is really
carried because it proves source Of
considerable revenue to the theiving
circus owners. The graft circus en-
ployees are usually paid off in this
car at night when the gambling de-
vices are in full operation. 1t is a
motley throng that gathers around
these crap and poker and roulette
games in the privilege carr. Per-
formers, "grifters" and ticket sellers
rub elbows with perspiring Negroes,
canvasmen, "razorbacks", cook-house
f1unkies, balloon peddlers, property
men and hostelers. And even these
games are crooked-for the phrase,
"There is honor among thieves" can
not possibly be true. Of there were
honor among a body of men they
would not be thieves).
Guarding the "Privilege Car"
Of course, an alert guard is kept
over the privilege car" Of the graft
circus, and only employees and at
taches are admitted to its sacred"
interior. Sometimes an adjuster will
bring a chief of police or some other
official into the privilege car" and
treat him to drink of booze. But
this is not often dOne-and only when
the ''fxer" is we'll acquainted with the
officer or official and can absolutely
trust him.
With some of these grating cir
cuses whisky is sold on the grounds
also-only, of course, to trusted en-
ployees. Before the eighteenth
amendment went into effect the stuff
was easier to secure and was sold
more or less freely, but now little
more caution is taken, that is all.
Immoral Dancing in Side-ShOw
Every graft circus carries immoral
dancing; that is, the Oriental or
hootchy-cootchy dancing, executed by
women; altho with some of these
shows man (female impersonator)
dances with these women. High prices
are charged for the Oriental dances.
, They are given for men only, in the
rear of the curtain of canvas, in one
/ end of the side-show; and the muscle
writings of the shameless, degener-
: ate females certainly have democrat
, izing and degrading effect on the
youths and men who flock behind the
5 curtain to witness them.
, 'Sneaking" Games When the Town Is
wrong"
In towns which the graft show elk
ers' find wrong" (that is to say, il
towns in which officials, or some o:
, the officials, or even one of the Off
Il cials, will not permit the operation o
) gambling devices) one or more o
E these gambling devices is operate,
j. back of the canvas curtain Whicl
J. hides the Oriental dances from tn
eyes of the wives and mothers an
is sisters and sweethearts and childre
e o. the men who patronize then
$ When Mr.. Fixer learns that a town
ID "wrong," he informs the grafters t
/ that effect and instructs them to ola
lie of" during the daytime, and to wa;
until night, and then "sneak" thei
games back of the hootchy-cootch
curtain Immediately on the conclusio
- OF the dances.
as How ''Fixers" Guard Gamblers
Id When gambling devices are in OPP
l. ration in the side-show tent OF
he "fxer" is always on guard duty at II
entrance thereto. This is to enab
him to watch out for officers of Il
-, law, whom he stop in deceitfull
- friendly manner and STALLS; that
= does not admit to the interior of sd
~ tent. The ''fxer" employs warrior
~ means to keep a police official out
-. tie side-show during gambling hour
- He will try m hurry the officer +O n
IS
-, big show-"so you can get a go
~ seat and see it ALL" he will explai
- O: he will tell him there has been sor
- fighting back of the "big top" dres
49, ing room; or he will concoct any XII
OF an excuse to inveigle the offic
eo into leaving the vicinity Of the sic
II" show
Is, Sometimes Police See Gambling