The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1870-10-22
The Albang 2eoister.
Science VS.. Luck.

At that time, in Kentucky (said the
Hon. Mr.. Knott, NJ. c., the law was
very strict again st what it termed "games
of chance" About dozen of the boys
were detected playing "seven-up or "oid
sledge" for money, and the Grand Jury
found true bill against them. Jim
Sturgis was retained to defend them
when the case cume up, Of course The
more he studied over the matter and /
looked into the evidence, the palmer It
was that he must lose case at last
there was no getting around that painful |
fact. Those boys had certainly been bet /
ting money on a game of chance. Even
public sympathy was aroused IN behalf /
of Stur.is. People said it was pity to /
see him mar his successful career with 7
bio prominent case like this, which must !
go against him.
But after several restless nights an in
spired idea flashed upon Sturgis, and he
sprang out of his bed delighted. lie
thought he saw his way through. The
next day he whispered around little
among his clients and few friends, and
then when the case came up in court he
acknowledged the seven-up aud the bet
ting, and, as his sole defense, had the
astonishing efrontery to put up in the
plea that old sledge was not game of
chance! There was the broadest sort of
smile all over the faces of that sophis-
ticated audience. The Judge smiled with
the rest. But Sturgis maintained
countenance whose earncstpess was even
severe. The opposite counsel tried to
ridicule him out of his position, and did
not succeed. The Judge jested in pom
dercus judicial way about the thing, but
did not move him. The matter was be-
coming grave. The Judge had lost a
little of his patience, and said the joke
had gone far enough. Jim Sturgis said
he knew ofAno joke in the matter-his
clients could not be punished for indulg-
ing in what some people chose to consid-
er game of chance, until it was proren
that it was game of chance Judge
and counsel said that would be an easy
-matter, and forthwith called Deacons Job,
Peters, Burke, and johnson, and Domi-
nies Writ and MiSgles, TO testify and
they unanimously and with strong feel
ing put down the legal bubble of Stur-
gis, by pronouncing that old sledse acds
a game of chances
''What do you call it no,e?'' said the
Judge.
81 call it game of science rctorted
Sturpis land III nrove it. too."
Tbey saw his little came
He brought in cloud of witnesses.
and nroduced am overwhelmino mass of
testimony to show that old sledoe was not
a came of chance but game of science.
Instead of haino the simnlest case in
world, it had somehow turned out to be
an excess;veIv Lnottv one The Jndoe
scrstcba3 b;s b..d oyer i .Tb;Ia an5
said tbora wos M ,v., IF con,;ne, ~ . do
tarninat;on beee,.sa inst os msnv mon
conid he bronebt into Court wbo wanld
toat;f,- ~ ~ e;do - oo',la ~ 50 -
tcstify m The otber Rut he sa;3 he was
I'LL. - AZ ~, a. 49,. III -
and wonld net mon any sne eges,;dn NJ
Stnrgis wonld make for tbe solution Of
the 6if;cuItv
Nr Stprcis vas nm his ea.t IN sec-
"Impancl iurv of six Of each. Luck
vs. Science-giye them candles. and 8
couple of decks of cards send them into
the iury-reom, and lust abide by the
result"
There was no disputing the fairness O
the proposition The four deacons ant
the two dominies were sworn in as tn,
sschancc" iurymeu. and six inyeterat
old seyen-un professors we're chosen Il
represent the ascicnce" side of the issue
They retired to the Jury room.
In about two hours. Deacon Peter
sent into court to borrow three dollar
from a friend. ISensation.1 In abou
two hours more, Diminie Miggles sen
into court to borrow a ssstake from
friend. TSensation.7 During the mex
three or four hours, the other domini
and the other deacons sent into court ft
small loans. And still the packed aud
ence waited, for it was prodigious OF
casion in Bulls Corners, and one in whic
every father of family was necessaril
interested.
The rest of the story can be told brie
". About daylight the jury came i,
and Deacon Job, the foreman, read ii
following: