A szerencsejátékos haszonbérlő és a „professionatus spielerek". (Egy pillantás a reformkori társadalom peremvidékére)

Abstract

Analizing the scandal taking place in the summer of 1840 in Balatonfüred, one of the famous thermal bath sites in Hungary at the time, the essay describes the underworld of a big town. József Román, a solicitor, made a complaint in 1843 about a 'solicitor', Dániel Prodanovits, in reality a criminal, who hit him because of not settling a card play debt. Zala county had the case investigated. During the course of investigation it became evident that it was not only aristocrats, wealthy noble people and citizens who showed up at the site, but prostitutes, marrige swindlers, card sharpers, waiters from notorious places of amusement as well. The bustling and lively town attracted adventurers. Card sharpers from Pest got József Román to play cards and collaborating they took him into debts. The investigation made it clear that Dániel Prodanovits and his friends, as professional card sharpers, lived at thermal baths in summer and Pest at the Wurm caffee in winter. József Román was not innocent either. He violated the law many times as a leaseholder. He misused his authority getting involded in bribery..Preserved in the Zala County Archives, documents relating to matters under dispute reveal one of the aspects bath life in Balatonfüred.