Rensselaer Standard, Volume 1, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 August 1879 — THREE CARD MONTE. [ARTICLE]

THREE CARD MONTE.

Where Its Operators Hold Out—A Few Reuiinlicences of the Great Monte “Sharp,” Canada Bill. Three card monte is a swindling game at which it is impossible to beat the operator, and it has been so thoroughly exposed that there ought not be any victims. Nevertheless, the monte spider, seeking human flies of K resent wealth, dexterously handling is cards and skilfully talking the while, makes his living about as easily as he did in Jhe days of the war, when money was plenty. An old railroad conductor, now a passenger agent for the Chesapeake ana Ohio road, but who ran a train on the Baltimore and Ohio road during th*i war, relates that he knew “Cadada Bill” to gather in SB,OOO on one train from Martinsburg to Baltimore, a distance of 100 miles. “Canada Bill” is a name well known to the gambling fraternity, although he who was known by that title was some years ago laid to rest. His death, which cut off from the earth the smartest operator of three cards that ever was seen, took place when he was a trifle more than forty years of age. “Just as well to die now,” said he, when told that medicinecould not save him. “Might as well cut the game, because the cream of the monte has been skimmed. There won’t be another war, and they ain’t going to build no more Pacific railroads, and it’s bard for me to play for ten when I used to catch a hundred twice as easy.” When his last minute came, he sat up in his bed and called out: “Fifty dollars to* ten you can’t pick up the ace,” and then fell back dead. The visiting angel had turned the last card for “Canada Bill.”

That is the story told of his last moments, and may be true if the old saying has no exception that the ruling passion is strong in aeath. Bill’s great boast was that he had beaten a minister. Chicago newspaper reporters of the year 1874 remember the excitement the city editors of the papers there, except one, were thrown into by the exclusive publication by that one of the story of a well known Methodist minister who became the victim to “Canada Bill’s” wiles on a train on the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific railroad. He lost nearly SI,OOO. Canada Bill did not have the reputation of having been the most expert dealer, but he did that of having been the most skillful operator. In the slang of his profession, “he could ring in suckers better than anybody,” and here is a sample of his proceedings that came under the Observation of the writer a few years ago: The Illinois State Fair, held at Decatur, was just over and the Grangers were filling the train, homeward bound. Bill, wearing cowhide beots and coarse clothes, got into the train Just moving from the station, and attracted attention by saying in a loud tone: “Well, no farmer has a show with rgilroaas. They kill his stock, and laugh at him . when he wants pay for iL” “What’s up?” asked his clever capper, and Bill related : “I brought three head of Durham calves down here from 'Winnebago county, and I got premiums on all of them. I was having them put on the cars to send home, (by this time the attention of every Granger in the car was attracted) when the consarned fool lets one of them break a leg on the bridge from the cattle pen to the stock car, and they had to kill itto put it out of misery. I wouldn’t have taken S2OO for the calf, but the railroad tells me I was shipping at reduced rates, and ain’t got any claim.”

The conversation that ensued and the statement that Bill had made put him on the best possible terms and in the confidence of all the Grangers, and. so when he spread his overcoat and said first, “I’ll sue the road, anyhow,” and then, “I found this little game that’ll be funny for the Winnegago folks, any way,” he had no lack of listeners and interested watchers and after that is accomplished the work of the three-card monte man is easy. Human nature, rich with avarice, does the rest. Bill drew out his cards and proceeded to tell how he had won $530, after losing S6O, “just as easy,” he went on, “as this. Now, here’s the money,” and he pulled out a pig-skin pocketbook. tied up with twjne, which he undid and exposed a pile of notes to the amount of several hundred dollars. “No discount on that; easier made than turn a long furrow.” His capper asked an explanation and Bill told him all there was in it and lost forthwith S2O to his accomplice. By this time half a dozen pocket books were out and bets came in freely. In half an hour the train reached Tolono, where passengers change for Chicago, and Bill about S2OO ahead, got up, remarking, “Well, gentlemen, I’m going to Chicago to see a lawyer about recovering for that calf. Good night*” And before the astonished grangers could realize the situation he had disappeared through the door. Half an hour afterward he was seen on the northern bound train dressed in the height of fashion and looking like anything but the coarsely clad man on the Wabash road. It is said that Canada Bill made SIOO,000 during his career as a card-thrower, but wheu he died, in Council Bluffs, lowa, he left just enough of money to give him a decent burial. Like many of his professions, he found at the ferotable bis greatest pleasure, and his winnings went from him more easily than

fthey came. He was a great player of draughts, and wen much mqney that way. Of his’early life, not much is known. He was born and lived for some years at Peekskill, New York, on the Hudson River, just below Poughkeepsie. He was often isrrested, bdt never stayed long in prison. After the war his field of operation was mostly on the Pacific Railroads west of Omaha. Himself a man of daring and personal courage, he often had to race men more desperate than himself, but his presence of mind never deserted him, and when everything elfie felled he was as ready with a weapon as his adversary. He never drank to excess had no intimate friends. Some years ago he visited Philadelphia. It was in the days, when fero flourished here, and the strict orders of the police had not substituted poker in private for fero In gambling rooms. Bill came with $5,000 in his pocket. He was the guest of a well known Sansom Street sporting man, and Bill remarked to his 1 host: “I’m only going to lose SSOO a night, so I’ll stay ten days.” He went -into a Ninth Street room that evening and left the entire $5,000 on the ‘table in less than two hours. For a month or two he operated in this v icinity Every week he would come back from his trip with two or three hundred do lars, and at every visit he left it all before the box. ' One night he put out S7OO, and when it had gone he turned in his chair and said to the owner of the house: “Lend me a hundred, I’m going to Chicago.” He sent thejnoney back the next week, with a letter which read; “Much obliged for the money. Chicago is good enough for Canada Bill.”—[Phuadelphia limes.