This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!
Three Card Monte Graft Shown by Railroad Hustlers
An 1905 account recalls a Howard City Michigan scheme where a “feeler” “steerer” and “spieler” pick marks at the depot then lure them to a shingle shed. They use a staged bet with a cross card, feign luck, and extract cash before cops or a so-called marshal arrive. The operation ends with arrests and a mental asylum fate for ringleaders. one worker later taunts staff in Kalamazoo asylum.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Joseph J. Bowles
Yankee Notons
Howard City
Mich
Michigan
Grand Rapids
Walt
Kentucky
Hampton
Battle Creek
Joseph Smith
Mr. Hampton
Joseph
Mr. Smith
Kaintuck
Mr. Brown
Brown
J. W. Brown
Indianapolis
Indiana
John Hampton
United States
Feeler
Mistah
Apfeler
Katnt
Kelly
Kalamazoo Insane Asylum
Kalamazoo
Grand Rapida