The Washington times., 1922-10-25
SHARPS
WIN HARVEST
FROM Liners
Polished Villains Of Luxurious
Steamers Wiring Thousands
From Their Victims.
BY HERBERT M. DAVIDSON.
international News Service.


By HERBERT M. DAVIDSON.
international News Service.
PARIS. Oct. 25.--This has been a
gala harvest year for the trans.
Atlantic gambler.
OF all the crooks he IL the safest
from capture. His polish excels
that of a Fifth avenue millionaire
or a Fifth avenue. hotel cieark He
Is accepted in society. He knows
how to charm women. to interest
men.
This accomplished bandit makes
his victims pay dearly, but what he
takes he takes pleasantly. He
gives amusement and excitement In
return. He 10 never rude nor vio-
lent, like his cousin, the burglar.
He would not soil his pink finger
nails operating jimmy. nor stain
his clothes with chloroform. The
thought of frightening any one
would be entirely repellent to
him.
Dozen to Q Ship.
II Ia estimated by Francis Clarke.
writing In the Paris Midi. that
every large liner that crossed the
Atlantic during the last six months
that 10, during a period when q
record number Of Americans made
the trip to Europe and returned to
America--carried with Il from six
to ten professional gamblers.
The profit made by these para
site. luxury-loving card sharks is
estimated by the same writer at
$25. 900 a day!
The total winnings Of a success
ful gambler, then, who made ten
trips during the entire season and
played four days on each trip, to-
tailed one million dollars!
But II Is not the custom Of most
gamblers to limit their game to a
few days on each voyage. They
trip and stay there until the steam
er docks. Then, IN Paris, in Lon.
don. or in New York they "rest"
from their labors. Some may play
a hand now and then In the. bar.
rooms Of first-class hotels. But
most of then .confine their activi-
ties to shipbodrd, where their yic-
Tins have little distraction frpm
the temptation to play. .
Some Have Families.
Some gamblers, II Is reported.
have wives and children in their
home port" and return from mys-
terious business trips" to resume
place as respected members Of
their communities.
Almost all transatlantic gamblers
are men OF education, often far more
so than the wealthy men they make
their prey. They must be always
on the alert, ready to account for
themselves, legitimately to the au-
thorities, to the ship companies to
persons in every. walk of life, and
OF every grade Of intelligence and
ariassed information. Above III, they
'tnaist be-prepayed to outwit their
sworn enemy, the secret service
man. -" ~,
Many Of the profession have the
science OF intriguing themselves into
the confidence OF their victims work
ed out to such fine point. according
to Clarke, that they succeed in max.
Ing the acquaintance Of their dupes
several days before the steamer sails.
Getting the introduction" is the
hardest part Of the Job. It involves
the need for a large acquaintance,
great amount Of nerve and an
ability to lie dexterously and with
ina agination.
Start Game Easily.
After the introduction the invita-
ton to play is a, minor difficulty.
What is there to 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
a game of cards?"
The victim always believes that
his losses are due partly to mex
perience. partly to luck. II mis- faith
wanes, he is allowed to win a thou
sand dollars or so. Then the ocean
seems bluer for a while-but 1t soon
becomes gray again.
More than one dune. however. OF
the millionaire variety will swear up
and down. even after he counts mis-
losses that the fun was worth che
price. Some charge II up to exper-
ience. but more to amusement.
Clarke tells the story Of very
rich American who made the &C
uuaintance Of a professional gam
bier first day out Of New ,Xdrk. His
losses averaged 5000 a day for the
six days Of the trip. But the night
the ship anchored In Cherbourg
harbor the American hadn't had
enough. He stuck to the bridge table
all night and barely made the last
boat ashore.