Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-26
clearinghouse Carlo Wheel

THE Casino Of Monte Carlo, which
draws its vast revenues from Wis
1t0rs. Is frequently the victim of insen-
aous swindlers. The games of roulette
and trente ct quarante do not readily
lend themselves to cheating: neyerthe-
lese. "the bank" has been robbed more
than once by rogues who, had they de-
voted their talents and patience TO bet
ter aims, might have made fortunes
more legitinaately IL less excitingly.
The Addison svindle is still talked Of
In Monaco, and its memorial remains.
at the trente ct quarante tables, In the
tact that different colored packs Of
cards are used for every game. But in
Ardisson's day the pack Il. e., the backs
Of the packs were all alike, and his
magnificent coup depended on this CIR
eunlstance. Etrolling Up 10 the trente
81 cuarante table one day with two
brilliantly attired women, he took his
place In the crowd. The women sep
arated from him and one went to the
other side Of the table Just as q
game was about 10 begin this lady asked
the croupier for change for a 500-franc
note. She received gold pieces. but
funsbied them, and a moment later they
had dropped and were rolling hither
and thither over the floor. There was
nomentary disturbance. All eyes
were diverted from the table. but at
tendants and onlookers helped her 70
retrieve her money. and presently the
series OF games were renewed.
ADDISON and his other friend began
stalking and time after time the cards
turned up in their favor In a very
few minutes they had won, between
them, q sum estimated at 10000
francs. Then they walked of, Joined
by the third Of the trio, left the Casino.
entered q waiting car and were whirled
across the frontier into France
The suspicious OF the authorities were
aroused. The cards were counted and
IL was found that there were several
too many. In the diversion caused by
the dropped coins the croupier had
substituted q prepared pack, supplied 10
him previously by Addison. The rest
was simple But the extraordinary
part Of the affair was that the croupier
had not been brihed. he had done il
purely as a friendly act. And the
Casino cofnpany-~or. rather, the local
authorities. who are much the same
thing-gaye him only two months i'm
prisonment. When he was released he
obtained employment again. but not as
q croupier The truth was that the
Casino had learned a valuable lessor
ard IL Is always ready 10 pay. and pay
smilingly, for fresh safeguards.
M. Blanc, the founder Of the Casino
Co, was In the habit Of paying in
similar fashion for his experience. Al
first he issued counters for play, each
counter being bought at an once witt
a nge-fTane piece The counters gol
into local circulation and were con.
sidsred as good AZ cash. but II suddenly
occurred 10 NJ. Blanc 10 grow suspicious
ard he called in" all the counter
money, More than double the numbe
~ counters we're returned than haf
been issued N. Blanc redeemed then
All and only allowed actual coin on hs
green cloths In future
"Houieaux d'or'-roils Of gold coin
were allowed at one time, each Fo
being sealed IN paper and each repre-
sentin2 the value ~ 900 francs.
yas unnecessary 10 open the foulea
when il was placed on the table. Bu
ore day a player who hsd lost b
rouieau bought 1t back from the bsnl
an the plea that it was special
lucky one. Again he lost, and agai
he Bought 1t back. The paper Dscam