Democratic banner. (Bowling Green, Pike County, Mo.) 1845-1852, 1851-01-27
lNossr.
Llie on the Turhing d y . :. Cara.

A friend narrated to us Q day Or two since
.sn ane ecdots Of early times in West Tennes-
see, which we will st.empt TO repeat. even
at the risk If losing lits graphic simplicity
of his convstsstionsE rstive. a7siass
Some eighteen or eDty yssss since, 9
fwell known resident 81 Tiptoa ceanty, wa.
put oili,ialrisi charged viii the murder of
his wife. AS ususFin sgeb cases, popnlsr
feeling was largely against him, aud alb the
ieloquence and ingenuity of his cashsel were
required to make any 7impre in, bis
favor upon the Jury, which,S however I'm.
partial it might desire TO be in the con-
seriousness Of sworn duty, corfld not but SCI Z
the waves of popular prejudice surging in
upon it. x
The case was ably argued The counsel
for the defense made most vigorous and i'm
passionate appeals. The case was submit
ted TO the jury, aud they retired 10 make up
their verdict. Time passed, and ns the
setting sun warned all of the approaching
night, the large throng in attendance, the
judge, counsel, etc., retired, all anxious, the
accused not least so, to learn the verdict of
the jury, and some wondering that the jury
hesitsted for one moment to bring verdict
of guilty. In the meantime the jury had
come to point beyond which they could
progress nofuriher. The appeals. Of the
counsel for the defence had not been with
out their influence; and the jury stood un-
changeably six for conviction and six for
acquittal. Something had to be done. In
those days twelve good fellows could not
be got together for night and Sleep
Cards appeared misterionsly from the depths
Of snndry large pockets, and exercises in
seven up and poker were zealously COM
menced. ~
About midnight, one of their number,
Col. p, proposed that they should play q
game of seven up, the result to decide the
vordict. The proposition was heartily and
unanimously agreed 10, in all serionsness,
and the whole crowd collie oted around Col.
P. and his opponent, who proceeded to play
a game on which was staked human life.
! Col P. played to save the accused His
opponent played. and quite - zssIoasly to
secure the conviction. Their hackers, firs
end five, stood behind them, encouraging
their champions, aud watching the game,
dimly seen by the light Of two tallow can
dies. with the most intense interest,". f.'
The game proceeded with very equal
fortune. ,ill both parties stood at six snd
six. II was Col. P's deal; he deslt and
turned Jack! The prisoner was acquitted,
and every man Of the jury joined in q shout
which startled the whole village, even the
jewellers in the grocery. Next morning
the jury went to court, and gave to the as
tonishment Of many, verdict Of ''not gull
Ity." The juryrnan who played an unsuc-
cessfnl game for human life, still lives; Q
much respected citizen Of this district
One Of the counsel is very distinguished
member of the Memphis bar and the accus-
ed has, we believe, gone up to higher
court; but neither of them, nor the assem-.
blage, nor the court who marveled at the
verdict eighteen years ago, have ever knew
that human life was saved by turning
Jaek!
There are some curious episodes in the
history Of our early settlements, but who
would think cf ventnring life upon turning
Jack Memphis Eagle. -