File:The New York Lottery Policy Game in the New York Herald of New York City, New York on November 23, 1869.png

Summary[edit]

Text[edit]

4 - 11 - 44. New York Lottery Policy Game. Maelstrom of Gambling. How The Poor Are Robbed and Where Their Money Goes To. The Secrets of the Snare. The Policy Dealers in Court. Notwithstanding that the laws of the State prohibit lotteries, and gambling is generally regarded as a secret practice, there are lew cities where Bior lottery operations are carried on than New York it is unnecessary to refer to the various swindim schemes which, by means of extraordinary advertisements, rob the uninitiated, as the police report have made tue public of this city perfectly fatnilia with the character and extent of those frauds. It i also well known that toe ordinary methods gambling are carried on to an alarmin degree among all classes, not acceptiuu the fast: lonables whose laces and satins are seen every Sun day in aristocratic; uptown churches; out lewar aware of the gigantic proportions of lottery opera tions in New York. Tue public sometimes hears Havana lotteries, and has an impression that tues cave secret agents in New York, who, to dispose tickets, must observe nearly tue same precautions a tne operators in ordinary swindling concerns, an there is also a vague idea respecting the existence lotteries in Kentucky, Missouri and otlier Soutinvesi ern States, which it is supposed manage to sell a few tic-tots this city. Solar from there uein; any secrecy tue matter, or any restraints upoi the lottery business in New York, the offices for th transaction of this nelartous business are as name rous and as public as pawnshops. They are no seoa on Broadway nor among the palatial edifices the fashionable quarters, and for this reason are overlooked by the better portion, ol the community bnt in the Bowery, the crowded thoroughfare tributary to Wall street, the neighborhoods of the Jersey City ferry, Five Points, the markets, and in the districts densely populated by the poor, lottery policy offices flaunt their boldly, am unceasingly draw in the earnings of the masses. Twice a day the tide of duped humanity ebbs and flows these eddies, which rarely yield up anything from the vast amount of money suckei in. In each of these ottices there is a drawing a noon and at night, and while now and then sonii person draws a paltry prize, the risks of thousand arc steadily flowing into the coffers of the central managers, which. like a maelstrom, day after day and month, alter month, swallows the earnings clerks, or laborers, of shop and the pittances the beggar. offices are not independent; establishments, but are agencies of elaborate system flavins tneir principal machinery oatside of York, and known as the Kentucky, Alissoari and the Mississippi State lotteries. NEW" YOKE HE.VDQCAr.TEK3. These lotteries have central agencies this cltv Irom which the small otllces radiate not only througl Sew York, but all the adjacent cities. At No. -M Bowery, the firm of Murray which, it is oai includes Jlr. Benjamin Wood, represents tue Kentucky and Missouri lotteries; and at No. 272 Bowery, the firm or Mclnt.vre represents the Missis sippl Each of these establishments has from lurty to lilt? scattered through the city, a winch tickets are sold in all the respective lotteries The central otllccs are in the upper rooms of the buildings. About forty clerks are employed in each of them, but a partition screens them from the observation of the visitor, who only sees a counter with one or two clerks and the usual paraphernalia of the ordinary lottery oitlcc. Every precaution is taken to prevent the detection or the tnnnaem. The clerks receive their salaries in envelopes addressed to them, and any attempt at investigation results EomcthiuK Iiifc the

• Q. What position do you occupy here? A. I am a clerk.
• Q. What are your duties? A. Posting the books and keeping the accounts asoai.s.
• Q. Who employs you? A. I don't know.
• Q. a you? A. I don't know.
• Q. How do you get your pay? A. I find it on my desk in an envelope.
• Q. Who puts it there? A. I don't know.
• Q. Who has charge over you? A. A clerk.
• Q. How is he paid? A. Just as we are.
• Q. Who do you suppose are the principals in couceruy A. I don't suppose anything about it. I come here every morning, do my work, and get my pay twice a week on my desk; that's enough for me to know about it.
  

These central offices employ agents to open offices In other parts of the ctty, tue agents receiving twelve and a half per cent commission on all sales or tickets made by them. Any person who choot.es to become an agent may do so by calling on the company, provided that his office would not Interfere materially with the business of auv office of the same company already established. Tins gives rise lo the question now being tasted before United States Commissioner Shields, whether these agents are simply clerks of the central company or are Independent business men, like those engaged in any occupation whose profits are derived iroiu commissions. As before stated, there are two drawings each 3ay--one at noon whtcn Is called "Extra," and another about six o'clock. An hour beiore the result of the drawing is announced, ail the agencies send tneir accounts, or "books," of the tickets sold to the central onice, uud no more cliances tliat drawing cau betaken. A3 soon as all the "books" liave been examined at the central olllce, printed slips of the drawa numbers are sent to all me agencies, hicii immediately pay out whatever may Have been won by ticket homers. THE POLICV OFFICES are generally In the rear of offices whose windows bear tue word "exchange," in large cut letters. Green screens give ao appearance of privacy to me and on entering me visitor linds a maa be- luud a small counter apparently having no other business tnan that of a sort of money lender. A few feet from the entrance is a partition with two Uoors in it, one before aud the other behind the counter. Uack of this partition is the poiicv aea. This apartment Is generally of good size," and lias a counter extendiuij Its whole length. The walls are lame slates, bearing tne nunibsis 01' the previous drawings and printed circulars relatins to the respective lotteries. In one corner of the room a record ot all Use drawings of the year is sometimes kept lor reference by the crowd for lucky just behind the clerk are displayed printed tickets in the large prize drawings. All tue policy shops are disgnsunglv filthy, and are generally infested with every descrim- tloa of vermin. The offices in the poorer districts are worse than can oe imagined. A feeble lamp ttirows a sickly ligUi upon a rude counter comnosed 01 Old planks nailed together, behind which a person as repulsive as uncleanliness and tne associations can make him takes in the pittances of negroes, ragged Arabs of the street, half-iiaked beggar girls, and every class of depraved humanity. The walls are reeking with dirt aud dampness; blotched and tattered remnanta of ola lottery circulars are pasted aoout, ana tne atmosphere is poisonous with foul oaors. A ponderous nesress shoves away a half-starved child that Has come to risk a penny in the lottery, and after discussing 1 the merits or sue Viirious numbers with che policy seller, stakes her ten or illteeii cents, and makes way for others as hideous their depravity as herself. These aens, however, are too small for au exhibition of the most sinking features of the lottary business. In the moro decent oillces a large crowd can be admitted, an I here one may see at a glance representatives every grade ot society. Well-dressed clerks, nurdy mechanics, seamstresses, gray, headed men old women, crunken hags ana girls and boys whose stature indicates ten or twelve years, but whose features look old and hardened, all jostle ich other urthe counter and tako their turns with th ticket seller. Tnere is no contusion whatever. li a-iy cue speaks it is in asubdued manner, as if tnu was watched by the nolice, and nearly all sfiud silently and witn a sort of dogged look as if the man behind the counter was depriving them or thuir fortunes, which, by hook or crook, they meant to have. The busiest days are twtarday ana Monday, immediately after the poorer classes have re- csivco. tneir week's wages. At such times the policy ouices are generally crowded aad large suras of are taken 1:1. THE PRIZES consist of specified sums of money, for which elaborately piinted tickets are sold, and of sums governed alluded to are not invested in much, the masses Itt-efcrrlne to make up their own combinations to ouung a single ticket already prepared. The drawings consist of thirteen numbers out of seventy- live, and or eleven, twelve, thirteen or fourteen numbers, aa the case may be, out of seventy-eight numbers. The thirteen out of seventy-eight Is the most common. The drawings are conducted, it is taid, at the lottery headquarters West, and the result telegraphed to New York. Seventv-elght consecutive numbers ara printed each on a small slip of Is rolled np and put in a little tin tube, and an ore then placed together a revolving cylinder. Thirteen of these tubes arc taken from the cylinder, which is made to revolve between drawing, and the numbers thus drawn are placed in line in the order of their first appearance The policy buyer really bets mat a certain number win come arst, or that certain three numbers will be drawn; or lie may combine the drawings lu one lottery with those of another, take his chances of the numbers selected by hlin appearing on certain Blips. I5nch Btylo bottlna a term peculiar to' itself. A number" consists oi a bcl tuat ft certain iiuuibcr will out at ttio head of the list, and In drawin-; one dollar would win pixt dollars on this if successful, netting ou lure numbers appearing at a single drawing is called "Kits," aud la this one dolUr'witis $200. Xnkiux th chances on two numbers is called a "saddle," i which one dollar wins thirty-two dollars: but th most common method of using this con bluatlon is to saddle the gig, that is, bet ar extra dollar on two of the three gig number 1 coming out. If the two numbers appear the policy player wins $32, but if all three come out he get S'JO lor his saddle and for theaig. netting the first two of any three consecutive iium bers iu the drawing Is' called a "capital aud if successful wins $500 for $1. Betting on fou numbers being drawn is called a "horse" and gives $b8ii for $1. All these different modes of betting are combined together by the experienced policy buyer and a few are now iutroducing a new feature, callei "cross glgi," which admits of combinations figures on different slips. JEach person who takes a chance in these draw insrs may invest any sum from one eeut-to hundred of dollars, the proportion of wluumirs to the sum invested being always the same. There is distinction made, however, In the different kinds drawings, as, Jor instance, a one dollar gis win $150 the 14-78 drawing, $175 in ihe 13-75 drawing S200 in tbe 13-78 drawing aud $225 in th 12-7S drawing. Most ot the regular polic, buyers have a superstitions regard for dreaais signs and lucky uunibais. borne will selec the numbers indicating the classes of previou, drawings, while to accommodate the crowd most the policy snops have a small box containing num bercd bits of wood or leather. Tlie buyer thrusts hi hand into this box alter it has been well shaken, anc ordwlng out a number takes It for his stake iu ill lottery. The most curious illustration of this super sutioa this porticu'ar is allortled iu TUE EGYTTIAN imKAaBR, a book giving numbers lor every dream. Copies tins work are found in nearly every policj dealer's office, and the dealer himself is ECU eraiiy so well posted In it that he interpret, dreams for who cannot read or are in a hurry. Tue contents of the book are indexed as fol True Interpretation of witu Fortunate "Dreams fo the Mouths;" "Table of Lucky Numbers;" "Dreatn bv a Celebrated 1'roiessor;" "Sims of a Sneedy Mar riage," o. several thousand dream signs, with cmrespotxUag numbers, are givexi, a good idea winch way be derived from the lollowing dreara of making sausages predicts quarrels; to eat them love to the young ami health to old people. 4, 22, 40. To tlieam of bemg among the tombs deaotes a speedy mar r'afie, success in business and tlie gaining of a law suit; filso the birth of children and unexpected news. 7, 8, SI Omi.i3. 'to (freatnof eating or spelling foretells th discovery of secrets and domestic quarrels. 9. Entrails. To sec them is a good if they belong ti another person, but if to yoursell it is bau. 14,19. It a ring accidentally falls olf a man's finger, tuat is imde no o'o'UM'-ion ol' ii.fcTnage, and ruus directly to the feet of a maid or u-jdow, it denotes not onlr that he IB iu love with th pariy, but that a sudden ensue. 27, 29. Tin; shiymi: oi a robin redbreast at your window in the time of co.irtbbip, on a Wednesday, IB a sign you shall hav tut; party desired. f)7. IE walking abroad with, your sweetheart you perceive pair of pigeons circle you round it is a sijjn ol marriage am happicess to ensue, with much content, 78. 11 a hire cross you on a Saturday myrmng It proml se happy days, riches and pleasure, 12. 4-11-44. Tlie mystic numbers 4, 11, 44, which have ro years been synonymous witn lottery policies, ar called the "niiiirer washerwoman's gig," and have become so impiessed on the minds of policy buvers tuac this combination is. used more thau any other Tho result is that when these numbers are drawn as happens, there is a tremendou; run on the lottery funds, and not a few dealers 201 "busted." The winning numbers are called and to the ntuaitiated the conversation around th policy offices respecting "BICS," "cross "sad ales," "horses," "hits," It rather mystifying The term, "piaeou" is applied to persons suspectci of being sent from the central offices after me Us drawings has reached there from tho West, to buy tickets or rival establishments dealing in the same lotteries. For Instance, the thirteen numbers drawn to-dav ia the Mississippi lotterv at Columbus are teiegrapheu cipher to Kew York, and a copy Is sent direct to the central cities up town, while the slips are being printed lor distribution atnoug tti various aseucieg. It is oiieged that tiie managers the central oillce occasionally send out a "pigeon with instructions to go to rival concerns- and take "Bigs-' for large amounts on certain numbers which the managers have received as the winners. The result oi sacn a. stop must of cmirse be a Heavy loss aad perhaps tbe ruin ol the parties thus taken advantage of. it sho.ild be stated tiiac the concerns ttins liable to uemK overreached are those called "middle men," and who have branch otlices, but conduct the business on their own capita! aud personal responsibility. In otliur words, taking bets on tho drawings made br tue establishments, these "middle must wait fertile list, of drawmgs the same as the agencies of the great central oillces, and, it is claimed, are almost entirely at tbe mercy ol the regular lottery managers. As they sell very few tickets in the great prizes, but confine their operations mostly to the "gigs," "saddles," of each day's the central cilices lose receipts whicu otherwise llow Into tlieir own agencies- 1'raciically the wiioic lottery system ol York consists of certain managers who have outside agents to take bets on certain unmoors being drawn out ol a cylinder, and addition to the immense percentage lavor of ttie taker ol such bets thero an opportunity lor trickery "equalled ly few and surpassed by uone." Whether disnonesty 13 practised in the management of tbe concern or not remains to be established. The managers may all be perfectly honorable gentlemen. The heaviest investments iu lottery policies are by well-dressed Americans, who take live, ten and frequently as high as fiity dollars' worm of chances at a ume. Xext to these are tne Irish ol all clashes, Irom the child that risks a peimv to the clerk aud mechanic who spend Irom live "to ten dollars per week in the game. The negroes patronize the policy shops fit. masse, but the aggregate of their squan- derings iu this manner is below that of either me Irish or Americans. The Germans spend least of all In policies, and are principally represented by the worthless class of mcir nationality. The negroes will pawn the clothes llief liave on to buy policies, and most of the thefts committed by mem are for the purpose of raising funds to invest in lottery tickets. "When it Is remembered that the four great loltery firms in New York--Hurray Mclntire Simmons Co. and Sturges have over coo offices in this city aloue, tnat thev employ nearly 200 clerks in their central otnces and tliat the books or Murray Co. for August aud Septeiuber.jthe dullest months of tho year lor lotteries, show receipts amounting to some idea may be formed or the miluence of this pernicious Institution upon the community- In the more decent policy ollices thousands of clerks are squan- derinir their salaries with the delusive 'ancy tnat they may eventually make a "hit" and ill their pockets. Hard-working seamstresses and servant girls each week put by a portion of tlieir earnings for the same purpose, with the hope of letting the means relief from pressing want, and ins laboring man, whose family needs every cent of iis wages, is drawn into the same whirlpool, from vhich ic is almost impossible to withdraw. Those vho have been engaged in the business as policy dealers and have abandoned it state that out of every hundred persons who invest In the lotteries not more than two make a "hit," and these are generally for small amounts, ranging: rrom teu to twenty dollars. In fact, so great is the in favor of the policy dealers that the central offices which pay a commlsion of twelve and a half per t.to agents, allow a discount ol fifteen per on all money paid to them by DU-- of tickets. In other words, a which costs one dollar at a branch otllce be bought at the central omce for eighty-live AS the most trifling sums are received, and me cent risked on the chance of one of tne seveuty- Hffhc numbers commit first on the list of iiurteen numbers drawn may win sixty cants, the emptatiou to the extremely poor and the ncourageinent to gamoliag among cmldren is almost beyond restraint Thus twice a' day. hroughout the year these allurements are spread mt among the population. Their baneful etfects in sapping the disposition to steady, legitimate business; in bringing the rising generation (one-half tue loiicy buyers are youths) in contact with the vilest haracters who congregate about the policy dens; the squandering of scanty means necessary to the support of deserving families, aad in the increase of ice which the occasional prize produces amon" the ompanions of the lucky individual, who invariably pends his winnings as soon as received, are the most serious evils of New York. Hie lottery policy business is a creator urse to this city than all its drinking places together nd the reformers and Christian missions whose ood works shine so conspicuously in the midst of lorai cannot, do better service to hu- lanlty and morality than by striking directly at nese concerns. Their present magnitude has been ttained so rapidly that it is probable very few out- Ide of the police force kn6w much about u. The lot- ery business in this city has gained nearly all of its resent influence over the community within the ast two years, and it Is steadily on the increase. TJie tottery Dealers in Court. The recent energetic and successful raid made pon the policy dealers has induced many of tnem present matters in their proper light. The entire nysterysnrroundmgthose lottery shops has, through he prompt and decisive action of Assistant District Attorney Jackson and Commissioner Shields, before whom the defendants have been taken for examlna- on, been exposed. Tue law in reference to the latter has been thoroughly expounded, and though here may be -a certain hardship attendant on the rosccutlon of the defendants charged--since they re not morally responsible--yet tho law must be nforced. the result being that all the connivances those who have hitherto managed the lotteries vill eventually be thoroughly disclosed. Assistant istrlct Attorney Jackson delivered yesterday a retty clear exposition of the law bearing on tne ase of the lottery dealers who nave been arrested or the non-payment of the epeclal tax. Tne law jon this subject, though not exactly pacIQc In the haracMrs which It Intends to embrace, at least so nr as concerns the present case, sets forth In para- raph 0 of section of tho revenue laws the follovr- Lottery ticket dealers jhall pay $100. Every perion, tuio- atlon, llrm, or corporation who shall make, BOU or otfcr to 11 Igtlery tlckcM or fractional parts tlnreof, or any token, crtlllojite or device representing or intending (o represent a Uory ticket or any fractional parl thereof, or policy of imbers In any lottery, or shall manage any lottery, or prc- arc ichunca of lotteries, or lujierintcuil drawing of any lottery, shall be deemed a lottery ticket dealer; provided that tlio managers of any lottery shall givo boud In the of ijil.uuu that the person pavlUi-Buchtait lla Dut tickets or supplementary ticket of such lottery which not been duly stamped according to law, and llnit he tho tax imposed by law upon tho gross receipts of bin Sections ill, 112 and 113 provide for a tax per cent on the gross receipts of all lotteries; returns, verified by oatix or affirmation, should made monthly aud in duplicate to tlie Assistant Assessor; and impose a penalty of $1,000 for failure make such returns, aud $1,000 for nonpayment the tax. The law excepts the managers of certain fairs whose proceeds are Intended for charitable purposes, and also provides that notuini; the revenue laws shall be construed Into legalizing lotteries. Lottery tickets must be stamped with of vendor and date of sale under a penalty of dollars. Sales without license are subject to a of $500 in addition to all other penalties; and purchasers of tickets from unlicensed lottery ticket vendors may recover twice the amount paid at time within tlirce years, with costs. Lottery dealers neglecting to pay the tmedal tax shall pay a $1,000, and each manager of a lottery is required Keep just and true books of account, Which subject to the inspection of the assessor. As a test case, the complaint against Hanlin charged with carrying on the business of lottery dealer without paying the special tax requfretl law, was yesterday afternoon brought before Commissioner Shields, there being several other defendants in attendance to await the issue of the proceedings. Assistant District Attorney Jackson appeared for the prosecution and Mr. Spencer for the defendant E. W. nulse testified--I have been engaged in city in the lottery business as a middleman; the years that have elapsed I have been constantly in business since the special tax was inflicted Congress', June ao, 1864; there are six lotteries existence la this business--namely, the Paducah, Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri, Mississippi and Shelby lotteries; the drawings are twice a day telegraphed here; among those engaged are the managers, middlemen and shopmen; when the tickets are sold the returns are made to SO Nassau street and 67 Liberty street; the policy business Is in this are thirteen drawn numbers on au average; there are seventy-eight numbers in; when there are three on a slip we call it numbers we call it a saddle, oae number a oftentimes these are sold out and they go on in people's names, though they might stiil retain sa'ue license; when a new lottery I had to license of S40: the managers of the lottery at Bowery in connection with tiie Missouri and Kentucky are Benjamin Wood, Frank Slag, William Franz, Jacob Bauich, H. Coltou; the receipts signed by Benjamin Wood; they go under the of Murray Jacob Baulch gives the bonds the managers; there is also connected with it Minis; 1 do not know whether Mr. Butts is managers; the rule concerning the special tax is that i nave paid the special tax wish which have charged me; the managers charged all that. Assistant District Attorney mana gcrs? Witness--C. H. Murray Co. Examination continued--With regard to the rule concerning the five per cent, that has always deducted monthly by the managers; they obtain license tax and live percent; there is another flrm in the cuy catied llclntyre MciJrian; be not Know any other; the parly who runs the has only twelve and a half per cent on the there are about 400 policy shops in this city; my own personal observation the gross receipts each year, since the law of 1884, average Sls.ooo day; the person who takes care of the shop twelve and a half per cent upon the sales; I called nnon the managers order- that the necessary bond might be Bled; asked them if they would go bonas for my business for they reiused, that thevwouia hold themselves responsible lor me; In reference tne charge of live per cent it was deducted by managers from my account at the end of every month; the managers get the five per cent in own hands and the organization is a monopoly; collection district is at So. 290 Bowery. Cross-examined by Assistant District Attorney Jackson--1 applied for the bonds on several occasion; I went there once in person and sent subsequently many times ro ascertain whether tlie lirm of Murray Co. would file tne necessary bond; gave me license for one office; they would not urn to take out a. license in nu own name; to the office of the collector; I was shown a bond purporting to be lor inv office; subsequently 1 paid fortj- dollars lor anotner license, winch lie said was an enormous assessment, and added the money would be returned; the lottery for 1 paid the forty dollars ran only two or three oefore it was consolidated or sold out; that was i'aducah lottery; my place of business is not at Washington street, but that is 0:10 of the branches. Alter a rurtner examination of the witness Mr. Spencer addressed the Court at some length, contending that the defendant was not by any responsible for the charges which had been preferred against tue lottery dealers. Sill, as well as the others, were mere shopkeepers, receiving twelve aud a half per cent for tneir services. He submitted that tins was a business being carried on tills city made a felony by express act of the Legislature--a business punishable by incarceration tue State Prison. He ciliated upon the lact that a few monopolists controlled lottery business in tills city, pocKeied the money that belonged to ttie government and debarred others ftum entering Into ttie business. He asserted that the lottery managers had defrauded the government of no less than $1,000,000. Mr. apenftr concluded by paying a high compliment to ttie Commissioner and other members of the United states Court, which, he contended, was invulnerable to political power and tue temptations of wealth. moved lor an adjournment tu order that the books or the Collector might be produced to snow the delendants liaa paid ttie special tax and other payments connected with the lottery business Assistant District Attorney Jackson briefly replied, observing that the laws, however good, oad or obscure, must be enforced. Ii they were bad they could be corrected. It had been contended that defeudauts and those depending upon the issue this investigation had proposed to pay all that required of them, and tuat they did so. But the law set forth that no receipt could be given tne bond had been regularly filed, if the defendants fell aggrieved at the treatment extended to them by the managers, mey had tuelr remedy civil action. AS it was the law was clear and and tiie detcndants, connected as they were way with the lottery business, for which they had not paid the special tax required by law. were sponslhie. Commissioner Shields--The only question before me at present is whetuer the defendant sill paid the special tax. Mr. Spencer said it was necessary to produce books 01 the Collector to show what had oeeu and also to prove that the defendants had complied with the requirements of the law so far as lay ilielr power. Assistant District Attorney Jackson offerta" no objection to we suggestion of the defendants' counsel, Commissioner Shields adjourned tlie case nil this afternoon.

Licensing[edit]

This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published (or registered with the U.S. Copyright Office) before January 1, 1929. Public domain works must be out of copyright in both the United States and in the source country of the work in order to be hosted on the Commons. If the work is not a U.S. work, the file must have an additional copyright tag indicating the copyright status in the source country. Note: This tag should not be used for sound recordings.PD-1923Public domain in the United States//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_New_York_Lottery_Policy_Game_in_the_New_York_Herald_of_New_York_City,_New_York_on_November_23,_1869.png