He is then taken to a supposed pool-room and gives up his money for the purpose of having it placed as a wager on a horse-race already won.

Under the McDuff case, it had been held by the courts that he had parted with his money for an illegal and dishonest purpose--to wit, in an attempt to win money from another who was wagering his own money in good faith--and the rogue who had seduced his conscience and slit his purse went free.

This was Levine's favorite field of operations.
But his friend went him one better.

Knowing that Levine had salted away a lot of money, he organized a gang of "cappers" and boosters, who made a great talk about the relative merits of two well-known pugilists.

It was given out that a fight was to be "pulled off" up the Hudson and a party was made up to attend it.