Bloomsburg democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1867-1869, 1868-11-18
Life on the Turning Of a Card.

A friend narrated to us a day or two
since an anecdote of early times in Wes
Tennessee, which we will attempt to repeat
even at the risk Of loosing the graphic sim.
plicity Of his conversational narrative:
Some eighteen or twenty years since O
wellknown resident of Upton county was
put on his trial, charged with the murder
of his wife. As usual in such cases. popu.
lar feeling was largely against him, and the
eloquence and ingenuity Of counsel were re.
quired to make an impression in his favor
upon jury which, however impartial i,
might desire to be in the consciousness Of
sworn duty, could not but sec the waves o1
popular prejudice surging in upon it. }
The case was ably argued. The counsel
for the defence made most vigorous and i'm.
passionate appeals. The case was submit.
ted to the jury, and these retired to make
up their verdict. Time passed and as the
setting sun warned all Of 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 wondering that the
jury heritated for one moment to bring in a
verdict Of guilty. In tho meantime the
jury had come to point beyond which
they could progress no further The ap-
peals Of the counsel for the defense had not
been without their influence, and the jury
stood Interchangeable, six for conviction and
six for acquittal. Something had to be
done. In those days twelve good fellows
could not be got together for q night and
sleep. Cards appeared mysteriously from
the depths Of sundry large pockets, and ex.
ercises in seven up and poker were jealous.
ly commenced. ..,
About midnight, one Of the number, Col.
P, proposed they should play game Of
seven up, and the result to decide the yer.
dict. The proposition was heartily aud
unanimously agreed to, in all seriousness,
and the whole crowd collected around
Col. p. and his his opponent, who proceed
ed to play the game on which was staked
human lite.
Col. p. played to save the accused. The
hackers, five and five, stood behind them on.
couraging the champions, and watched the
game, dimly seen by the light Of two tallow
candles, 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 member in the jury joined in the
shout which startled the village, even the
revollers in the grocery Next morning the
Jury went into the court, and gave, to the
astonishment Of many, the verdict Of mot
guilty" The juryman who played an un'
successful game for human life still lives,
and is a much respected citizen Of the dis
trict One of the counsel is distinguished
member of the Memphis bar, and the &C.
cused has, we believe, gone to higher court;
but neither of them, nor any Of the assem-
blage nor the court, who marveled at the
verdict eighteen years ago, has ever known
that a human life was saved by turning
Jack, There are some episodes in the his.
tory of our early settlement; but who would
think Of venturing life on turning JackT