Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1860-10-20
Life on the Turning of . a Card,

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an auecdOtc of carly times in West tennessee
which we will attempt to repeat, even at the
risk of losing the graphic simplicity of his
conversational narrative.
Some eighteen or, twenty years since, well
known resident of Upton county was put on
his trial, charged with tho murder of his wife
largely against him, and all the eloquence and
ingenuity of his counsel were required to
make any impression in his favor upon Jury,
Which, however impartial it might desire to
be in the consciousness OF sworn duty, could
not but see the waves of popular prejudice
surging in upon it.
The case was ably argued. The counsel
for the defence made most vigorous and iln.
passoncd 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 oi The approaching 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
wond ring tina, the jury hcSitptld for one mo-
mcnt to bring in verdict of guilty In the
mean time the jury had come to a point be-
yond which they could progress no further,
The appeals of the COUNSEL for the defence
had not been without their influence, and the
jury Srood interchangeable, six for conviction
and six for acquitta. Something had to be
done. In those days twelve good fellows
could net bc got together for night, and
sleep. Cards appeared myStnrioos'y from the
depths OF sundry large pockets, and exercises
i'll seven M anl poker were zealously con-
mcnccd
About midnight, one of their bulbcr, Col
Py proposed they should play game OF seven
up, the result to decide the verdict Tie
proposition was heartily and unanimtu usly
agreed to, III all seriousness, and the whole
crowd collected around Col. y. snd his uppo.
nont, who proceeded to play the game on
which WAS Stdkcd human life
Col. i. played to save the accused, his op-
ponent played. and quite rs zenlouSly, to
secure the conviction. The buckcrs FIVE and
five, stood behind them encouraging the
champions, and watched the game, dmly
seen by the light of two tallow candles, with
the most intense interest, The game pro-
cecdcd with very equal fortune, till both par
ties stood mt SIX and six. 1t WAS Col Ps
deal, ho dealt, and turned Jack. The pris-
oncr WIS acquitted, and every member in
the lnry joined in the shout, which startled
the whole village, even the jewellers in the
Grocery Next morning the jnry went uto
the court, aud gave, to the astpnishMcnt OF
many, the verdict of mot guilty" The ju-
ryman who played an unsuccessful game for
human life, still lives, much respected citi-
zen OF the district One of the counsel is n
very distinguished mcmbcr of the Memphis
bar, and the accused has, os VIC believe, gone
TO higher court; but neither of them, nor
the court, who marvclcd Mt the verdict ciyh-
teen years ago, have never known that hu-
man life was saved by turning Jack. There
are some curious episodes in the history of
our early settlement; but who would think of
vcnturinS life upon turning Jack.
49,.
LIE SMITH FAMILY. -" Gentlemen" !" said
a candidate for Congress, my name is Smith,
and am proud to say am not ashamed Of
it. 1t may be that DO person in this crowd
owns that very uncommon name. II, how.
ever, there be one such, let him hold up
his head pull up his dcky turn out his toes
take courage, and thank his stars that there
are u fc@ more Of the samc sort
Smith, gentlemen, il an illls.rious name,
And stands eyer high in the annals OF fnmc;
Let White Brown. and Jones Increase ms they win
Belieye me Tint Smith VIII ounumber them still
Gentlemen, I am proud of being an origi-
nal Smith not Swyth, but regular natu,
raj Smith, Smith Putting a y in the
middle.or an at the end wont do, gentlemen.
Who ever heard Of great mau by the name
of Smyth or Smythc. Echo answers who,
and everybody anys sobudy But as for Smith,
plain S-mi til. why the pillars of fame are
covered with that honored and revcrcd name
who were the most racy, witty, and popular
authors ofths century, Horace and Albert
smith VINO the most original, pitly, aud
humorous preacher! Rev. Sidney Smith.
10 go further back-wllo was the bravest and
bodcst soldier in SuInter's army in the Re.
voution ! a Smith. Who paiayercd with
Powhatan, galliyontcd with Pocahontas. and
became the ancestor of the first families in
Virginia! a Sm;th rgain. Aud who, L
ashland ask the question more seriously
soberly-who, ] say, is that man, and what IS
his name, who has fought .ho most battles
made the most speeches, preached the most
sermons, held the most Offices, sung the most
songs. written tho most poems, courtel the
most women, and married the most widows |!
History saysI say aud everybody says, John
Smith"
The BANKS IN SoUTu GARoLdNA- We
publish, this morning, the comparative view
OF the average weekly condition, of the banks
in this State, from their returns to the Comp
troller General, for the month of Sentcmber.
From this statement, we colnpie thefeIlow.
ing synopsis, which embrccs the important
particulars to the general reader. The ag,
gregates are as follows:
LIABILITIES .--Capital S14, ,a52, ,486 .8S I,
oiYcnlgtion 1850 0RFi, 10. ,,ro6ta n,,L..