Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1858-05-27
Mississippi Gambling.

Various games had succeeded each Other
and the interest began to flag, when, one
who had not before participated. at leas,
not in that portion of the boat where l was
seated, came forward and taking up pack
of cards, offering to bet any man $50 that
he could 'cut a jack from the pack every
time, let who would shuttle them. The
passengers gathered around the table tc
see the trick, but not extremely forward to
take the bet. 4 can do it, gentlemen, ev-
cry time, just as easy said he. who will
go fifty on it?' No deception about it gen
tlemen; its all done fair and above board
Here are the Jacks you see, now any one
of you, or any two or three of you may
shuttle the pack and yet I'll cut Jack
every time. Don't BE- bashful, gentlemen
Here's $50, as good money as any mar
has go:; who'll cover it?, L WILL said
Mr. GREEK. from Mud Hollow. fambling
with his greasy leather pocketbook; 'here'l
the money; hand me the keards til shut
fle en- Mr.. GREEN accordingly tool
"them keards' in his huge, horny hands
and after several Intellectual attempts al
shutting them. in which he spread them
promiscuously about the floor number ot
times. finally laid them before the gambler
with, Now let's see them Jacks. The
gambler rose from his scat. and in doing SC
drew from his sleeve. long, glittering
Bowie knife, aud with one motion cut the
pack through to the table, while With the
other hand he swept The money into his
pocket.
A murmur of Indignation. ran round
among the passengers. while the unfortu-
nato Mr.. GREEN denounced the author ol
his misfortune as a swindler, and knave:
announcing with tears in his eyes that it
was the last money he had in the world,
being all that was left fromihe proceeds of
this trip to market; his pocket having been
picked Of the rest while at New Orleans
When the hubbub had somewhat subsided,
the clerk Of the boat stepping from the
bar-room, carelessly asked the gambler,
what about that trick The swindler ex-
planned what he could do. 'Pshaw,' said
the clerk. You, nor no other man can do
that. 'I'll so you $50, can do it. I'll
double the stakes said the clerk, for no
man on earth can come that game; so
down with the rags at the same time call
lug, Here bar-keerer, bring me deck of
cards, shant trust to this rascals pack
'All right says the gambler, L had much
rather use your cards, and..then you can't
accuse me of cheating" The cards were
then brought forward, carefully shufled,
and laid on the table before the operator
AS before. out came the bowie-knife, and
the cards were cut oncs more, but the
hand that proceeded to- grasp the money,
was arrested, and the clerk with a revolver
in his hand, requested the trickster to show
the Jacks he had cut He hastily turn
ed over the severed cards, but unfortunately
he found no jacks the clerk had them re-
moved before he ventured on the bet; and
taking up the money he handed $50 of it to
Mr.. Green. at the same time warning him.
never to bet with blackleg on Missis-
sippi steamboat At the next landing
place, our friend of the bowie knife, found
it convenient to leave and he was seen no
more on our boat. during that trip.