Case ID: f-cas_21/html/0490-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "THE COURT", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Case No. 12,358.
    SARDO v. FONGERES.
    [3 Cranch, C. C. 655.] 
    
    Circuit Court, District of Columbia.
    Dec. Term, 1829.
    Gaming — Billiards—Action to Recover Monet Won.
    Money won at billiards is money won at play, within the 5th section of 9 Anne, c. 14, and cannot be recovered if more than £10 be won at one time; which section of that statute is in force in the county of Washington.
    Appeal from the judgment of a justice of the peace for $50, of which $48 were won at billiards at one time, and 82 were for the use of the billiard-table, the plaintiff [Michael Sardo] below being the owner of the table.
    Mr. Marbury, for appellant
    [Lewis Fon-geres], contended that the debt was void by the 5th section of the English statute of 9 Anne, c. 14, which was in force in Maryland, on the 27th February, 1801, and adopted as a part of the law of Maryland, as they then existed; the amount won at one time being more than £10. 1 Com. Cont. 41.
    Mr. Wallach, and Mr. Elkins, for appellee, :
    contended that, as the Maryland act of 1797 (chapter 110), respecting gaming-tables, excepted billiard-tables, all gaming at billiards was lawful; and that money won at billiards was not within the English statute of 9 Anne, c. 14; and they cited-v. Bland, 3 Burrows, —, and Earl of March v. Pigot, 5 Burrows, 2802, and Act Md. 1797, c. 110.
   THE COURT

(THRUSTON, Circuit Judge, absent)

reversed the judgment, with costs of this court, and entered judgment for the appellee for $1, for the use of the table, he being the owner thereof.