M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1859-02-17
Cllit anO aumor.
Going Hundred Better; or, which
Hand Takes the Pot.
A GAMBLING TRIAL IN CALIFoRYIA.

There is such a place as 'Deadwood'
in California. a friend of ours pass,
ed through the town the other day,
but stopped long enough to witness a
trial before the chief officer of the
-iaw, vulgarly called a Justice ofthc
Peace.
The case was Hanks rs. Breese,
and tie facts were:
FirSt-That the parties had viola
ted the law by playing poker on the
Sabbath. (ltis, perhaps, proper to
state that the good folks Vi Deadwood
had not seen the Supreme Court deci-
sions.)
Second-That Breese played very
low down, or, in other words, cheat
ed plaintiff.
Third-That the game broke u p in
a row, the parties being arrested by
the Justice, who happened to be pres.
ent.
1t was an important case. Both
parties were we'll known, and had
hosts OF friends. The defendant,
through his attorney, q sharp little
man, demanded q jury. The people
of Deadwood never go to trial without
ajury.
The legal preliminaries having been
properly arranged, the case was called.
Twelve of the best men in the local..
ty formed the jury. The attorneys
were big with the event of the hour.
At length on odd-looking genus,
named Stephen Lick, was placed on
the stand by the prosecution. The
case proceeded.
You said you were present during
the game between the parties. Did
we so understand you, Mr.. Lickp
TIE witness nodded in the sflirma.
tive.
Did you observe the progress
Of the game with any INTEREST,"
'lreckon | did-licker was pendin'
on it,
What was the amount at stake, at
the time the row occurredP
well, the ante was two bits, and
Lem. Hanks bet a half on his little par.
Then Bill he went in--'
'Never mind the details, intcrrup.
ted the lawyer, impatiently answer
my question:
THAT'S what I'm goin' to do re-
piled tho witness, drawing large
black plug Of tobacco from bis pock.
ct.
You see when Lem. dropped his
half on die pot, Bill kivered it with q
big dollar, cause | stood wharf could
see that he helt a little par, too. Lem
he then tuck a drink an& 'peared sort
o keerlcss-'
Come. come, again interrupted the
lawyer, 'tcll rs the amount OF money .
at stake at the time the quarrel com
menced.'
Steve said the Judge, tamiliariy, |
you say that when Biil Brceso shov-
ed up his dollar, Lem Hanks took q
snifter and 'peared sort o'keerless -
What did he do Menp
why he seed Bill! and lifted him
two scads. Bill he 'peared G littlo un.
easy, but raised Lem five. Lem he
tuck another drink and said the game
was gettin' interestin', at the same
time shaking ten,dollar piece out on
the same pot. Bill he then said, Lem,
you kinder suit me, and called out
twenty better Then
The lawyers here protested against
this manner Of giving evidence, but
they were overruled by the Court,
who asked the witness what the par.
tics did then.
Then we all tuck a small drink,
and Lem spread himself. i see that
matter of twenty dollars 'and so you
thirty better.'
VIII the constable please Keep Or
der in the court room, so that the jury !
kin ketch all the wordS!' cried one Of
the jurors.
The witness proceeded: BILL he then
got down to scratch his feet, and when
he got up he lifted Lem twenty more.
Then Lem began to look distressed,
and pushed his shirt sleeveu up to keep
t from gettin' dirty, l s'pose, but .
'um up bime by like a man With
Stop, stop, stop shouted one of
he lawyers, whose patience was ex-
lausted. I'VE do not care about 81 {
much detail, but desire simply to l
;now what amount OF money is in t
lispute.'
Mr.. Constable, followed the Judge,
rho was deeply interested in the wit.
less' story, do urduty.' Then fix !
ng his eyes on the witness, he asked:
Steve, my boy, when Bill plunged
lis thirty better, what did Lem come ,
p withl'
why Lem he lifted him a cool fifty.
The Judge collapsed,
'Gen.leman of the jury, that's so
Or l was thar, and seen Lem do it.
By one ofthe Jury: w hat did Bill
10 thenP i