Descent upon Fashionable gambling houses.
--Saturday night will long be remembered by a portion of our inhabitants as the date of an event which may not be inaptly termed a financial crisis.
It has been the fortune, or misfortune, of
Richmond to have as many banks as any town of its size on this continent.
We might, if we were so disposed, enlarge upon the subject (though not boastingly) of discount banks, deposit banks, savings banks, Basin banks, sand banks, shinplaster banks, and faro banks; but it is not our purpose now to do so in a general way, though it becomes our duty, as an impartial chronicler of events, to say a few words concerning the institutions last named, in regard to which a learned writer has said, ‘"the more you put down the less you take up."’ It may be necessary to state that our entire personal knowledge of these banking houses is derived from the developments of the past forty-eight hours, and if we don't call things by their right names, the more experienced reader will pardon us. At the solemn hour of midnight, when it is supposed that every honest man has turned in, unless duty keeps him away from home, the police of the city, under orders from the
Mayor presented themselves suddenly at the private entrances of two or three gambling saloons, and without going through the usual ceremony of bell-ringing, immediately penetrated their gorgeous interiors.--These unexpected visits, we need hardly say, occasioned some little commotion; but, in that we are not called upon to record any knockdown arguments or effusion of life's purple current, we feel a peculiar gratification.
The presiding spirits of the establishments, on the contrary, surrendered at discretion, and the astonished customers, without waiting for an opportunity to ‘"go another hundred on the queen"’ or to ‘"copper on the ace,"’ got out of the way by the most practicable method — the rapid use of their egos.
The houses visited were
John A. Worsham's, on Fourteenth street,
Edward Monteiro's, in a building owned by
James H. Grant, adjoining the
Spotswood House, and
Murphy &
McCann's, rear of Exchange Hotel.
The parties arrested were
John A. Worsham, charged with keeping and exhibiting the game of faro;
William Burnes, similar charge;
James, slave of
Edward Monteiro;
James McCann, for keeping and exhibiting faro;
Benj. Deyrout, employed for that purpose by
James McCann and
Jesse Murphy; and Matt, a slave, who seems to have been doorkeeper of the bank last named.
The news spread rapidly to other similar institutions, and lights were extinguished in such haste that it is doubtful if the cash accounts were squared in every instance.
A large amount of moveable property was captured, and the procession of policemen on the way to the station-house is said to have been grand and imposing.
It was indeed a sight to see our sturdy officers, during the small hours of Sunday morning, moving silently along under the weight of the massive legs of a faro table, while their companions voted the other component parts; for the apparatus was knocked to pieces to facilitate transportation.
There were roulette tables, faro tables and drawers, and silver dealing boxes, all of the most approved style and exquisite workmanship; then there was something like half a bushel of ivory checks, or ‘"chips, "’ which represent money in these popular houses, ranging in denomination from 25 cents to $100; besides cues, playing cards, layouts, and all the paraphernalia of great and little gambling establishment.
All this plunder was piled up in the first station house, whose sombre walls never before sheltered such a magnificent array.
The arrested persons also remained there until yesterday morning, when they were admitted to bail for their appearance before the
Mayor to-day.
With regard to the cause of this sudden descent upon establishments which have been tolerated for years; which have been supported by the rich as well as the poor, and (report says) countenanced by many of our ‘"best citizens,"’ it may not be proper to speak in advance of an investigation.
There are sundry statements in circulation, but the truth of the matter will probably be made known in due time.
Neither are we prepared to say that the war upon the ‘"sports"’ will be carried on until every bank is compelled to suspend or close business entirely.
It is manifest, however, that the occurrences of Saturday night have produced a deep sensation among a class of shrewd financiers.
The law requires that all the apparatus found in gambling establishments under circumstances like the foregoing, shall be broken up and burnt.
There is a good deal of valuable material now in the hands of the police, which might be worked up advantageously, and it seems almost like wickedness to destroy it in such times as these.
Articles that have served a bad purpose might be made to serve a good one, though if the law commands otherwise, it is nobody's business.
Still, we don't exactly believe that those silver boxes, and the money that is said to have been captured, will be thus disposed of.
