Unforeseen Perils of Gambling

Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Robbery / Theft / Embezzling, Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Shooting, Desert Club (Tonopah, NV), Gambling, It Really Happened, Nevada State Prison (Carson City, NV), Tonopah--NevadaLeave a comment

1920 It was 3 a.m. on a Monday. About 15 men were gambling in the Desert Club. One who’d been there all night, sitting alone, watching and waiting to make his move was George Strickland. In his mid-30s and a self-named Wobbly, he’d arrived in Tonopah, Nevada, a few days earlier. Suddenly, he stood, brandished…

Gambling in the Pokey

Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Cheating / Fleecing, Gambling, Gambling Currency: Coins, Gambling Currency: Coins: Brass, Games / Races: 21 / Blackjack, Games / Races: Panguingue, Games / Races: Poker, Games / Races: Roulette, Games / Races: Tonk, It Really Happened, Nevada, Nevada State Prison (Carson City, NV)4 Comments

1932-1967 Inmates strutted around the Nevada State Prison yard and jingled the brass coins or tokens, in their pockets, to boast their elevated status as winning gamblers of the pen. Beginning in 1932, convicts ran an open casino on the grounds of this maximum security facility in Carson City. The warden allowed and didn’t hide…