Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1870-12-16
0tforo 9fmotrat.
From the Galaxy for Octooer.l
Mack TWAIN.
SCIENCE VERSUS LICK.

very stiict against what Is termed games
OF chance
About a dozen of the boys were detect
ell playing 'seven-upr or 'old sledge" for
money. and the grand jury found true
bill against them. jim Sturges was re-
tainedto defend them when the case came
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 betting
on n game OF chance. Even public sym.
pathy was reused in behalf oil Sturges.--
People said il Was pity to see him mar
his successful career with big prominent
case like this, which must 20 against him.
But after restless nights an inspired idea
flashed upon SturgeS, and he sprang out
of bed delighted. lie thought he saw
his way through The next day he whis-
percd around little among his clients
and few friends, and then when the case
came up in Court he acknowledged the
scven-up and the betting. and, as his sole
defence, he had the clfrontery to put in
the plea that old slcdge was net = game
of chance
There was the bToadest sort of smile
all over the faces of that sophisticated au,
dience The Judge smiled with the rest.
But Sturges maintained countenauco
whose earuestness was almost severe.
The opposite counsel tried to ridicule
himou of his position. and did not sue
ceed. The Judge tested in ponderous
judicial way about the thing, but did not
move him. The Judge lost little bit of
his patience. and said the Joke had gone
Tar enough.
jim Slurges said he knew Of no Joke
in the matter; his clients could not be
punished Tor INDUCING in what some pco-
pie chose TO consider a game of chance
until /, was py0reH that it was game OF
chance.
Judge and counsel said that would be
an easy matter. and forthwith called Dca-
cons job. Peters. Burke and johnson, and
Economies Writ and Miggles, TO testify
AMI they unanimously and with strong
feelings pu, dowu the legal quibble OF
Slurgis, by pronouncing that old sledsc
tCaS a game OF chance.
What do YOU call i; no'c}~ said the
Judge.
II call il game OF science" rctoried
StureiS and II! prove it too"
They saw this lille game.
lie brought in crowd Of witnesses,
and produced an overwhelming mass of
testimony to show tina, old >Iedgc was
not game Of chance, but game Of sci,
ence.
Instead Of being the simplest ease in
the world. il had somehow urncd out to
DC a Auo,ty one. The Judge scratched !
his heal over il Tor awhile. and said there
j, no way Of coming to determination,
because Just as many men could be brot
into Count who would testify on one side .
as could be found 10 testify on the other /
But he said lie was willing to d. Tic fair /
thing by all parties, and would act upon /
suggestion NJ. >,ursis would make for /
tie solution Of the difficulty.
Nj. S,ursis Wa on his feet in 4 see
ond:
'Impanuel jury Of six Of each, Luck |
- Science. give them candles and q
couple OF deck, ct cards, send them into
the jury-room, and Just abide 10y The nc. !
suit.
There was no dispuiiug the fairness OF
the proposition. The four deacous and I
the two Jomluies were sworn in ~ the
chance jury men, and six iuvetcrate Old
seven up professors were chosen to rep
rcsyu; the science" side Of the issue
They retired TO the Jury room.
Ia shout two houJs. Deacon Peters
sent into Court 10 borrow 3 from
friend. (Seu>ation.) In about two hours
more. Dominic Migsles sent into Court
TO borrow stake from q friend (Scn
satio1.) During the next three or tour
hours, the other dominic aud The other
deacous sent into Court for small loans,
And still the packed audience waited, for
i; was a prodigious occasion in Bulls Cor
uerS, and one in which every father of
;amily was necessarily Interested.
The rest Of the story can be told briei-
~. About daylight the jury came in.
and Deacon Job, the foreman. read the
following
VERDICT:
We, the jury IN the case Of the COM
monwealth Of keutucky vs.. John Vince
or ct al, have carefully considered the
points of the case. and tested the merits
Of the several theories advanced. do here,
by unanimously decide that the game
commonly known as old sledge. or seven /
mp. is eminently game of science and
not of chance. In demonstration where
of it Is herein stated. iterated. reiterated,
set forth and made manifest, that during
the entire night, the chance" men never
wen game or turned jack. although
both feats were common and frequent 10
the opposition. And furthermore, in
support OF his our verdict. we call aiteu.
ton 90 the SisuiticYDt Etct that tb.