Washington telegraph., 1852-07-07
Life on the turning Of n Jack.

Life on the turning Of n Jack.
a friend narrated to us day or two
since an anecdote of early times in West
Tennessee, which we will attempt to repeat
even at the risk of losing the graphic SIM
plicity Of his conversational narrative.
Some eighteen or twenty years since a
wellknown resident of Upton county was
put on his trial, charged with the murder of
his wife. AS usual in such cases, popular
feeling was largely against him, and all the
eloqucnce and ingenuity of his counsel
were required to make any impression in
his favor upon . jury, which, however inn
partial it might desire to be in the consci-
entiousness of sworn duty, could not but see
the waves of popular prejudice surging in
upon it, .sr.. t-.t. .rul list
The case was ably argued. The coun-
sci for the defence made most vigorous and
imprisoned appeals. The case was SUBJ
mitted to the jury and they retired, to
make up their verdict Time passed, and
as the setting sun warned all of the approach
ing night, the large throng in attendance,
the judge, counsel, etc., retired, all anxious,
the accused not the least so, to learn the
verdict of the jury and some wondering that
the jury hesitated for one moment to bring
in verdict Of guilty. In the meantime
the jury had come to a point beyond which
they could progress no further. The ap-
peals of the defence had not been without
their influence. and the jury stood unchange-
ably six for conviction and six acauital.-
Something had to be done. In those days
twelve good fellows could not be got togeth-
er for night, and sleep. Cards appeared
mysteriously from the depth of sundry large
pockets, and exercises in seven up and po-
ker were zealously commenced a'
About midnight one of their number,
Col. p, proposed that they should play
Came of snvon up tho reeeeut % JooiiO .l,~
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 to play
the game on which was stalled human life.
Col p. played to save the accused. His
opponent played, and quite as zealously, to
secure the conviction. The hackers, five
and five, stood behind them, encouraging
the champions, and watching the game, dim
ly seen by the light of two tallow candies,
with the most intense interest.
The game proceeded with very equal for
tune till both parties stood at six and six. 1t
was Col. P.'s deal; he dealt, and TURNED
JACK. The Prisoner was acquitted, and
every man of the jury joined in a shout which
startled the whole village, even the revelers
IN ''the grocery" Next morning the jury
went into court, and gave to the astonisll-
ment of many, the verdict Of mot guilty.
The Juryman who played an unsuccessful
game for human life still lives, u much res
pccted citizen of this district One of the
counsel is very distinguished member Of
the Memphis bar, and the accused has, as
we believe, gone to higher court, but mel
ther of them, nor any of the assemblage, or
the court, who marveled at the verdict, eigh-
teen years ago have ever known that hu-
man life was saved by turning Jack -
There are some curious episodes in the his
tory of our early settlements; but who
would think of venturing life upon turning
Jack. Mem. Edg. d. Eng.