Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1859 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAP1ER VII. fr/ck* of Peter Funk Mock Auctions of New York--The old -and mother's Trick--Pug Ugly, or the man that told ages--The Card in th Egg--The Charmed Twelve--To tell the card thought of in a circle, fee. PETER FUNKS. Tins class of swindlers is composed of "fancymen," "gamblers," and "bullies," wh(c) are called the "protectors " of the lowest order of females, or in other words the lovers and pensioners of "midnight nymphs of the pave," of the most abandoned kind, inmates of " panel houses" and Jive-point rookeries. These gentry are, aa will naturally be expected, well skilled in the mysteries of pocket-picking and petty thieving, and are a very numerous fraternity. The tricks of these scoundrels are such in many cases as are calculated to deceive, as sometimes happens, the most cautious ' bargain hunter" and "curiosity finder." In order to conduct, successfully, a mock auction shop, ten or twenty, or perhaps thirty, of these worthies associate themselves together, and by assuming disguises, such as dress and actions, they are able to personate, and correctly loo, all kinds of people. Now, it must not be supposed 'that the "stock in trade " of these establishments is all worthless; far from it. Yet, such are their plans, that it would be almost impossible for a buyer to remove anything valuable from the place. During business hours a blood flag is hung out, and the various characters personated by the party are properly arranged, and assisted as they are by the sham " crying' of the auctioneer, passers-by naturally presume ail to be right within: so cleverly deceived are they tnat even Ut enter and mingle with the crowd, none save a "know mg jne" could detect the cheat. A trick often practiced by the New..."