Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-01-09
Life on the Turning Ct a Card.


A friend narrated to US a day or two
since, an anecdote OF early times in West
Tennessee, which we will attempt to re.
peat even at the risk of losing the graphic
simplicity of his conversational narrative.
Some eighteen or twenty years since, a
well known resident of Iinion county was
put on his trial, charged with the murder
of his wife. As usual in such cases, pop
ular feeling was largely against him, and
all the cloqneuce and Ingenuity of his coun-
sci were required to make any impression
in his favor upon jury, which, however
impartial it might desire to be in the con-
sciousness of sworn duty, could not but
sec the waves Of popular prejudice surg.
ing III upon it.
The case was ably argued. The coun.
Sc! for the defence made most vigorous
and impassioned appeals. The case was
submitted to the jury, and they retired, to
make up their verdict. Time passed, and
as the setting sun warned all Of the ap-
proaching night, the large tllrong in at.
tendance, the judge, counsel, etc, retired,
all anxious, the accused not the least so, to
learn tie verdict of the jury, and some
wGgered that the jury hcsilated for one
moiySnt to bring in verdict Of guilty. In
the e 3autime the jury had come to point
beyond which they could progress nc fur
ther. The appeals of the counsel Of the
defence had not been without their inhu.
ence, and the jury stood unehangcably six
for conviction and six for acquittaf. Some
thing had to be be~dony.c. ~ddSony.cc II those days
twelve geod-fellows could not be got to.
getncr for night, and sleep. Cards ap.
peared mystcrieusly frcn, the depth of sun
dry large pocsets, And exeseisss ii sesszn
up and poker >veis l,se:l
About midnight one of their number
Col. p, proposed that tliey should play a
game Of seven up, the resultto decide the
verdict. The proposition was heartily and
unanimously agreed to, in all seriousness,
and the whole crowd collected around
Col. P. and his opponent, who proceeded
10 play the game on which was stakcd Il
human fife. Col. p. played to save the
accused. His opponent played, and quite
rs zealously, to secure the conviction.
Their hackers, five and five, stood behind
them, encouraging the champions, and
watching the game, dimly seen by the
light of two tallow candles, with the most
intense interest.
The game proceeded with very equal
fortune, till both parties stood ut six and
six. Itwas Col. P's. deal; he dealt and
TURNED JACK. The prisoner was acquit.
ted, and every man of the jury joined in Il
shout which started the whole village, even
the jewellers in "thc grocery" Next morn.
ing the jury went into court, and gave, to
the establishment of many, the verdict of
"not guilty" The juryman who played
an unsuccessful game for human life, still
lives, much respected citizen of this dis
trict. One of the counsel is very distin-
guished member Of the Memphis bar, and
the accused has, as we believe, gone to a
higher court; but neither of them, nor any
Of the assemblage, nor the court, who mar
yelled at the verdict, eighteen years ago,
have ever known that q human life was
saved by twning Jaca;t There are some
curious episodes in the history Of our early
settlements; but WHO would think of ven
turing life upon turning Jack !-Alemphis
Eagle.