Year: 1869

from the washington star, May ..


The building Ala Pennsy lvanIa avenue, occupied
for some time the Congress Clothing store" il
now being pulled down to make room for extensive
improvements contemplated by the present prOprIc-
tor, Dr. Daniel h. Clarke. In taking down some Of
the partitions to remove gas pipe daylight was let
iound to extend through the rooms of the whole
upper portion OF the building, and with other APP
paratus forming one OF the most remarkable pieces
vi machinery Tor gambling swndling ever exposed
To view.


This building is one Of the Oldest upon the avenue,
and was many years ago known as the Rockendorff
House, having been occupied for long time by MRS.
Rockendorf as confectionery store. Afterwards
u icll into the hands OF the gamOng fraternity and
II would seem that they brought the DEVILS own in-
genuity to work to transform 1t into suitable den
Tor their operations OF vllany. THIS machinery, as
now laid bare, shows that immense and labor
were bestowed upon its invention and preparation.
Inc gambling rooms were in the second story front.
over them were two garnet rooms with dormer
windows. In the 1ooring of each OF these upper
rooms q trap door had been cut about six feet In
length andthree In width. The trap being taken up
shows an aperture between the floor and the ceiling
OF the room below OF size to accommodate the gam
bers confederate; and aseries OF small perfOraiOns
In the ceiling afforded him a full view Of the cards
held 10y the players at the table In the beneath
by his side was the end Of thin wire, which passing
along under the nOorng OF the attic to the walls ran
down to the flooring OF the room below tplayinR
upon nicely adjusted pueys mt the angles, and 40
on until u reached point directly under the card
came into play by which, with springs OF spiral wire
a triangular piece OF iron was made to work up
through u minute aperture In the i0or under the
foot OF the swndling gambler The victim In this
operation, 1t will be seen, had no show whatever.
Green, the reformed gambler has shown the sys-
TEN OF cheating by marked cards, but that was
clumsy and lnencient mode OF ascertaning what
the opposite player has In his hand, compared to
this system OF tesgraphy, which, by the way, can
claim priority IN time over Morse's invention. This
system would not be Of much service to tho
faro sharper but must have been fatally
effective In the gambling games of twenty and
thirty years ago. In following the course OF the
wires II IL noticed that packing OF soft wool had
been placed at every point where the working Of the
apparatus would possibly make noise calculated to
warn the victim. The operator Of the machinery
was as silent as death, and not an Indication ap-
pearcd anywhere to give him suspicion OF the net
work or viany in which he was entrapped. The
punctures IN the ceiling, which gave view OF the
cards TO the confederate overhead were screened
from view by an ornamental Oval Of green figured
papering, and the aperture In the noor under the
card table, through which the spring played, was
concealed by the carpet.


some years ago, 1t WIN be remembered. q some
what conspicuous character, by tho name OF DonO-
van was implicated In some gambling rascality that
led 10 his serving term In the penitenfiary. This
building was the scene OF his gambling operations,
but though the establishment had bad name, It
not suspected that the vIlany there had any
such dabolcai backing as was afforded by this ma
chlnery.


For the last half-dozen years the house has been
occupied az clothing store. The present owner
proposes to erect here building suitable the I'm
portance OF tue locality, and the old gambling den.
with iis Mysterious machinery, viii be among the
traditions OF the past.