DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.16515#0213
CURIOSITIES OF MEDICAL EXPERIENCE. No. VII.
an important revelation.
We are compelled, as faithful chroniclers, to state that our friend
Mr. Muff has been "done"—regularly sold, and swindled out of five
pounds one, at Clodpole Races.
CUT FOR THE SIMPLES.
of this vun, and who's afraid ? Different people has different opinions,
but it's not unkivered now for any sum you like—who says a flimsy i"
" I think it is under the one nearest to us," observed one of the
conservative cutaways to Mr. Muff.
"No ; / think it's the middle one," remarked Joseph in reply.
" I'll go you two," said the gentleman to the player.
" Say the five, sir," replied the man, touching his hat.
"No, two ;" repeated the gentleman, patting down the money.
'■' Pull away, sir," answered the player. The cutaway lifted up the
nearest thimble, and lost.
" Well, I shouldn't have thought it," exclaimed the gentleman to
Mr. Muff; " what a wonderfully quick eye you must have !"
" I could guess it every time,'' said Mr. Muff; " wait till he begins
again."
" Now, then, for another turn," said the man ; " if you've got no
money, you can't play ; but if you have, you may win a fortune.
Here he is, and there he is, and now he's everywhere. Vun, two,
three—out of this vun slick into the t'other. Now, you boys, keep
We hasten to report the transaction, in hopes that it may be of back—I only plays with gentlemen."
service to our subscribers ; for although our Number will not refresh As the thimble-man turned to disperse the crowd behind him, the
the universe until the Derby is over, yet the Oaks, Ascot, and Mous- conservative cutaway lifted up the thimble, and showed the pea to
ley are still to come. ' the spectators, covering it rapidly again as the player resumed his
Accompanied by Jack Randle, Mr. Muff locked up his surgery on occupation,
the " cup day" at the above place of resort ; and leaving word that if " It's not found out, for a ten pun' note," said he.
anvthing required his attendance, he should be found at the winning- " It's been seen," exclaimed the honest farmer,
post after each race, set off to the race-course, about half a mile distant, I " I know that," said the man ; " I always shows it to the company.
He had not been there half an hour before the swindle took place, of wllo's game to bet ?"
which we are indebted to Mr. Randle for the particulars—Mr. Muff " Take him, sir," whispered the cutaway to Mr. Muff; " you're
evidently feeling ashamed of his simplicity. sure to win, and I'll go you halves."
It appears that although Joseph was " well up" in London diversions Mr. Muff was in an agony of desperation, but he would not bet ten
and impositions, he had not sufficiently studied the Physiology of the pounds. He therefore wagered the five, and, by so doing, nearly
Race-course. Randle had left him, to arrange with some sporting emptied his exchequer.
friends about riding a jibbing mare in the hurdle-race ; and as Mr. " I'll move them round once more, sir, if you like," said the player,
Muff was sauntering about the course, his attention was drawn to a touching the thimbles.
little knot of people who were crowding round a slight three-legged " No, no," cried the cutaway ; " I know your cheaty ways ; let the
table, upon which a man was exhibiting the mysteries of the pea and gentleman choose for himself."
thimble. As he had frequently heard of this game, coupled with the
parliamentary proceedings of the House of Commons, he joined the
circle, and, by the politeness of the two bystanders, who saw he was
anxious to inspect the game, and politely made way for him, got close
to the table.
A birdseye inspection of the company satisfied him that he was in
proper company. There was an honest farmer in spectacles, with a
pocket-book in his hand, full of notes, and a very superior gentleman's
servant, in clean top-boots, with a whip ; with two young men of
Tashion, in blue satin stocks, brown cutaway coats, with conservative
brass buttons, and patent leather boots, with long toes ; and a respec-
table gentleman in black, who looked something between a butler
out of place and a methodist parson ; and lastly, such a dashing,
handsome lady, in a lemon-coloured lined muslin dress, beautifully
H.nbroidered with sprigs and trimmed with green bows, wearing a
flat gold watch at her waist, not at all afraid of the pickpockets, and
wafting a perfume of verbena from the laced handkerchief that could
be perceived all the way up the course—also sporting one of the
celebrated twenty-shilling bonnets which have caused so great an
excitement in the Royal Drawing-rooms and the fashionable world
With nervous haste, Mr. Muff placed the amount of the bet on the
table, and lifted up the thimble under which the " little pay" had
been seen. What was his consternation and horror to find it was
gone !
" Bless me !" said the cutaway, " what a mistake. Look here, Sir,
this is the thimble you ought to have lifted : you chose the wrong
one."
Maddened with anger at being thus gloriously taken in, "downey"
as he imagined himself to be, Mr. Muff raised his heavy stick, and
smashed the table with one blow, at the same time seriously damaging
the shins of the cutaway; and then rushed from the spot, in the vain
hope of finding a policeman.
It is really remarkable, that year after year, victims are still found
for the thimble-rig—in many instances, clear-headed and intelligent
persons. The whole of the ruffianly gang who compose the party are
keen adepts at legerdemain, coarse and horny, as are all their hands
—the chief marks that betray them. There is no cobbler's wax in
the thimbles, neither is the pea magnetic or adhesive : the whole
swindle is comprised in an adroit use of the nail of the secoud finger,
whilst the thimble is lifted bv the forefinger and thumb. After it
it large. { has once been covered over you are never sure of it, even if the
"Gentlemen, and noble sportsmen," said the professor of the ffame, i thimbles are not again moved; for it can be taken up or dropped
who was a very pleasant-looking man, in a shooting-coat and freckles ;
* the condishuns of this curious game is easy to be taught and to be
learnt. If you have a quick eye to trace my movements, which is
with the slightest visible motiou. In Mr. Muff's case, which is a very
common one, the transfer was effected when the man asked "if ho
should move them again.
all the chance I have, and diskiver which thimble the little pay is ■ Were it a fair straightforward game, the chances are two to one
tinder, you wins ; otherwise you loses quite different and permiskus." against you; but played as it is, no one can possibly win. Many
" Now here's little Jack, the dodger, in his round-house, that never of our readers may say, this is all very well, but they knew it before,
pay no taxes. Here he goes again—vun, two, three, and never say | Probably they may ; yet it is evident there are some who do not, or
die ; right round the corner out of that vun, up the middle, down ; the thimble men would not succeed as the y do, year after year, in
again, and slap into this vun. Here's the thimbles as loses, and that
vun's the vinner, and who says done for a fi' pun note ? Come farmer,
say the five."
The farmer put his hands in his pocket, and inspected the thimbles
—the money was laid on the table, and Mr. Muff looked on in breath-
less excitement. The right thimble was lifted up, and the farmer
pocketed the money, which our friend thought be might just as well
have had himself, for he should have lifted up the same ; so he re-
solved to keep a sharp look out.
" Well, gentlemen," continued the man, " I never grumbles at
losing, but I'd rather win. Them as don't see don't tell, and them as
do, bold their tongues, for luck's the real sportsman. Here goes
*giu—vun, two, three ; it's my place to hide, and yours to find ; out
catching new fools—for fools, and downright idiotic ones, the}' are.
ORGANIC.
an important revelation.
We are compelled, as faithful chroniclers, to state that our friend
Mr. Muff has been "done"—regularly sold, and swindled out of five
pounds one, at Clodpole Races.
CUT FOR THE SIMPLES.
of this vun, and who's afraid ? Different people has different opinions,
but it's not unkivered now for any sum you like—who says a flimsy i"
" I think it is under the one nearest to us," observed one of the
conservative cutaways to Mr. Muff.
"No ; / think it's the middle one," remarked Joseph in reply.
" I'll go you two," said the gentleman to the player.
" Say the five, sir," replied the man, touching his hat.
"No, two ;" repeated the gentleman, patting down the money.
'■' Pull away, sir," answered the player. The cutaway lifted up the
nearest thimble, and lost.
" Well, I shouldn't have thought it," exclaimed the gentleman to
Mr. Muff; " what a wonderfully quick eye you must have !"
" I could guess it every time,'' said Mr. Muff; " wait till he begins
again."
" Now, then, for another turn," said the man ; " if you've got no
money, you can't play ; but if you have, you may win a fortune.
Here he is, and there he is, and now he's everywhere. Vun, two,
three—out of this vun slick into the t'other. Now, you boys, keep
We hasten to report the transaction, in hopes that it may be of back—I only plays with gentlemen."
service to our subscribers ; for although our Number will not refresh As the thimble-man turned to disperse the crowd behind him, the
the universe until the Derby is over, yet the Oaks, Ascot, and Mous- conservative cutaway lifted up the thimble, and showed the pea to
ley are still to come. ' the spectators, covering it rapidly again as the player resumed his
Accompanied by Jack Randle, Mr. Muff locked up his surgery on occupation,
the " cup day" at the above place of resort ; and leaving word that if " It's not found out, for a ten pun' note," said he.
anvthing required his attendance, he should be found at the winning- " It's been seen," exclaimed the honest farmer,
post after each race, set off to the race-course, about half a mile distant, I " I know that," said the man ; " I always shows it to the company.
He had not been there half an hour before the swindle took place, of wllo's game to bet ?"
which we are indebted to Mr. Randle for the particulars—Mr. Muff " Take him, sir," whispered the cutaway to Mr. Muff; " you're
evidently feeling ashamed of his simplicity. sure to win, and I'll go you halves."
It appears that although Joseph was " well up" in London diversions Mr. Muff was in an agony of desperation, but he would not bet ten
and impositions, he had not sufficiently studied the Physiology of the pounds. He therefore wagered the five, and, by so doing, nearly
Race-course. Randle had left him, to arrange with some sporting emptied his exchequer.
friends about riding a jibbing mare in the hurdle-race ; and as Mr. " I'll move them round once more, sir, if you like," said the player,
Muff was sauntering about the course, his attention was drawn to a touching the thimbles.
little knot of people who were crowding round a slight three-legged " No, no," cried the cutaway ; " I know your cheaty ways ; let the
table, upon which a man was exhibiting the mysteries of the pea and gentleman choose for himself."
thimble. As he had frequently heard of this game, coupled with the
parliamentary proceedings of the House of Commons, he joined the
circle, and, by the politeness of the two bystanders, who saw he was
anxious to inspect the game, and politely made way for him, got close
to the table.
A birdseye inspection of the company satisfied him that he was in
proper company. There was an honest farmer in spectacles, with a
pocket-book in his hand, full of notes, and a very superior gentleman's
servant, in clean top-boots, with a whip ; with two young men of
Tashion, in blue satin stocks, brown cutaway coats, with conservative
brass buttons, and patent leather boots, with long toes ; and a respec-
table gentleman in black, who looked something between a butler
out of place and a methodist parson ; and lastly, such a dashing,
handsome lady, in a lemon-coloured lined muslin dress, beautifully
H.nbroidered with sprigs and trimmed with green bows, wearing a
flat gold watch at her waist, not at all afraid of the pickpockets, and
wafting a perfume of verbena from the laced handkerchief that could
be perceived all the way up the course—also sporting one of the
celebrated twenty-shilling bonnets which have caused so great an
excitement in the Royal Drawing-rooms and the fashionable world
With nervous haste, Mr. Muff placed the amount of the bet on the
table, and lifted up the thimble under which the " little pay" had
been seen. What was his consternation and horror to find it was
gone !
" Bless me !" said the cutaway, " what a mistake. Look here, Sir,
this is the thimble you ought to have lifted : you chose the wrong
one."
Maddened with anger at being thus gloriously taken in, "downey"
as he imagined himself to be, Mr. Muff raised his heavy stick, and
smashed the table with one blow, at the same time seriously damaging
the shins of the cutaway; and then rushed from the spot, in the vain
hope of finding a policeman.
It is really remarkable, that year after year, victims are still found
for the thimble-rig—in many instances, clear-headed and intelligent
persons. The whole of the ruffianly gang who compose the party are
keen adepts at legerdemain, coarse and horny, as are all their hands
—the chief marks that betray them. There is no cobbler's wax in
the thimbles, neither is the pea magnetic or adhesive : the whole
swindle is comprised in an adroit use of the nail of the secoud finger,
whilst the thimble is lifted bv the forefinger and thumb. After it
it large. { has once been covered over you are never sure of it, even if the
"Gentlemen, and noble sportsmen," said the professor of the ffame, i thimbles are not again moved; for it can be taken up or dropped
who was a very pleasant-looking man, in a shooting-coat and freckles ;
* the condishuns of this curious game is easy to be taught and to be
learnt. If you have a quick eye to trace my movements, which is
with the slightest visible motiou. In Mr. Muff's case, which is a very
common one, the transfer was effected when the man asked "if ho
should move them again.
all the chance I have, and diskiver which thimble the little pay is ■ Were it a fair straightforward game, the chances are two to one
tinder, you wins ; otherwise you loses quite different and permiskus." against you; but played as it is, no one can possibly win. Many
" Now here's little Jack, the dodger, in his round-house, that never of our readers may say, this is all very well, but they knew it before,
pay no taxes. Here he goes again—vun, two, three, and never say | Probably they may ; yet it is evident there are some who do not, or
die ; right round the corner out of that vun, up the middle, down ; the thimble men would not succeed as the y do, year after year, in
again, and slap into this vun. Here's the thimbles as loses, and that
vun's the vinner, and who says done for a fi' pun note ? Come farmer,
say the five."
The farmer put his hands in his pocket, and inspected the thimbles
—the money was laid on the table, and Mr. Muff looked on in breath-
less excitement. The right thimble was lifted up, and the farmer
pocketed the money, which our friend thought be might just as well
have had himself, for he should have lifted up the same ; so he re-
solved to keep a sharp look out.
" Well, gentlemen," continued the man, " I never grumbles at
losing, but I'd rather win. Them as don't see don't tell, and them as
do, bold their tongues, for luck's the real sportsman. Here goes
*giu—vun, two, three ; it's my place to hide, and yours to find ; out
catching new fools—for fools, and downright idiotic ones, the}' are.
ORGANIC.