Bat Masterson Arrested

Story of the arrest of famous 1800 gambler and lawman being arrested in NewYork city for being involved with running a "brace" (cheating) Faro game. Gambling History brought to life

FAROMARKED CARDSHISTORY

7/29/20223 min read

Faro Game for Innocence Only

“Brace” outfit for wealthy amateur pluggers seized “Bat” Masterson arrested.

Police say owners operated in exclusive hotels. Mormon leader, who says he was caught in Buffalo, made the complaint that led to the arrest.

New York June 7th, 1902

Those unlucky fellows in Saint Louis and the southwest, who lost at Faro when playing in Hot Springs and elsewhere, may find solace in this story:

“Bat” Masterson and three alleged western friends, who were believed to have made the Waldorf-Astoria their headquarters, have been arrested here for setting up a “brace” Faro layout, fitted up evidently for the fleecing of rich amateur pluggers. The arrests revealed in a startling manner the helplessness of men who “went up against” the game.

It is said the same outfit was used in hotel and gambling houses in Saint Louis, Hot Springs, Buffalo in Saratoga.

The arrest of Masterson astonished local sporting men, as his name had never been associated with crookedness. Masterson carried an old pattern 44 caliber revolver such as he strapped in his belt to terrify and sometimes kill the roughs of Dodge City, when his name was a synonym for the fearless execution of western justice.

No information was given out by the police as to the name of the complainant, but Masterson, after his release on bail said that he was G. A. snow of Utah, who, he understood was a Mormon leader.

Masterson, at the same time, in a characteristic way, told a remarkable story of his arrest. He said that snow completely exonerated him and that, although he knew Sanders and frank, two of the other men arrested, he had no knowledge of any brace game. Snow, according to Masterson, said he had lost $17,000 by the swindle in Buffalo, and that the same gang were trying to fleece him again. He is stopping at the Waldorf-Astoria.

The four men arrested are; James C Sullivan, J. S. Saunders and Leopold Frank. Sullivan said he was 38 years old, a horseman, and that he lived on the Pacific Coast. Sanders gave his age as 38, his occupation as a bookmaker and his address as Denver. Frank said he was 32. When asked his occupation he said: “I'm a gambler and I live in Chicago.” At police headquarters today a statement evidently dictated by the chief of detectives was given out by Eddie Hughes, captain Titus’ secretary.

“These men”, said Hughes, “have been arrested on the technical charge of having gambling paraphernalia in their possession. As a matter of fact, they have been to Saint Louis, Hot Springs, Buffalo and other places throughout the country “skinning” suckers with a “brace” Faro layout it was learned that a man, who was on his way to New York, was caught by this crowd in Buffalo and fleeced of $16,000 or $17,000.”

The captured layout consists of the usual devices for dealing Faro. The cards were marked, or as they are known among the crooks, “readers”. The decks were also of varying widths, so that the dealer could “skin” out the desired card to be played against the sucker at will. The cards were thinner than the ordinary kind and had no specially designed center, the backs being covered uniformly with cross work.

The markings consisted of small black lines, perhaps 1/32 of an inch long at the different places on their edges. The dealer was enabled by the marks to tell which card was coming next, so that the man who played the game was at his mercy.

When Masterson was searched at headquarters, besides the big pistol, a $5 bill was found. $83 in small bills was distributed among the other three. When it was asked if the men would not be held for swindling under the evidence afforded by the marked cards, no opinion was ventured. Neither was it explained how the men happen to be trailed from the Waldorf-Astoria.

“I don't know about that”, he replied, “but I understand they have been working many big hotels. I believe however that they were chiefly to be seen about the Broadway hotels.” It was said at the Waldorf Astoria that none of the prisoners had been registered there.