The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1871-03-21
Mark Twain In Kentucky--sci-
!, ~ e0ce va, LICK

Mark Twain In Kentucky-lsci-
ny ence vs.. Luck.
At that time in Kentucky (said the
Hon. Mr.. Knott, M. c. the Jaw was
very strict against what is. termed
"games Of chance
About a dozen of the boys were de-
tected playing s.seven up or ssold
sledge," for money, and the grand jury
found true bill against them. Jim Stur
gis was retained to 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 he
must lose case at last-there was no
getting around the painful fact.
Those boys had certainly been betting
money on 1 game of chance. Even
public sympathy was reused in behalf
lof Sturgis People said IL was Q pity
to see bin mar bic successful career
with . big prominent case Ike this,
which must go against him.
ous aiu0i e0SSta ioSeicSo HtSutS au
inspired ldea nashed upon Sturglss and
he sprang out of bed delighted. He
Thought he saw his way through. The
next day he whispered around a little
among MS clients and q lew friends, and
thenSwhen the case came up in court he
acknowledged the seven.up and the bet
| ting, and, as his sole defense, he had the
astounding effrontery to put in the plea
that old-sledge was not q game Of
chance.
There was'the broadest sort Of a smile
all over the faces OF the sophisticated
audience The Judge smiled with the
rest. But Sturgls maintained 2 countes
nance whose earnesness was even se-
we're. The opposite counsel tried to rid,
icule him out OF MS position, and did
not succeed. Inc Judge Jested IN .
ponderous judicial way about the thing,
but did not move MIN. Inc Judge lost
q little OF his patience, and said the joke
had gone lar enough.
Jim Sturgis said he knew OF no joke
IN the matter, his clients could not be
punished for lnduiglng IN what some
people chose to consider game Of
lchance until it was proven that 1t was .
game OF chance.
Judge ana counsel saia tnat Wonl1 pe
an easy matter. ana iortnWltn called Dea-
cons Job, Peters, Burke and Johnson,
and Domimes Writ and Miggies 70 tes-
thy; and they unanimously ana with
strong feelings put down the legal -quiD,
pies OF oturgls py pronounciDg OLD
sledge game OF chance.
Nv hat do you call It nowF" said the
Judge.
= eau u 9 game 9. science J, reeorseo
Thoy his I;ttlo .cor,o
he brought in q crowd Of witnesses.
land produced an overwhelming mass. of
testimony to show that old sledce was
| not game of chance but q game Of
science.
Instead of being the simplest case in
the world, it had somehow turned out
| to be an exceedingly knottv one. The
Nudge ScratcleQ his loaQ over 16 8W0ilo,
and said there was nd way OF coming to
determination. because lust as many
men could be brought into court who
would testify on one side as could be
found to testify on the other. But be
said he was willing to do the fair thing
| by ali parties, and. would act upon any
suggestion Mr.. Sturgis would make for
the solution of the difficulty.
Mr.. Sturgis was Oh bis feet IN q sec
lond.
sImpannel a Jury Of six Of each
Luck We. Science-Qive them candles
and a couple of, decks of cards, send
them into the jury-room, and just abide
bv the resultr' 81
There was no disputinc the fairness
of the proposition. The four fleaconS
and the two denominies we're sworn in
as the sschance'' iurymen. and six invet
crate seyen.up professors were chosen
to represent the s.science', side Of the
issue. They retired to the jury-roonl,
1 into court To OOfrOW S3 from lfle0U.