The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1874-10-15
BOB GIBBONS BLIND"

the First District Territorial Court of
Montana, is Justly celebrated for his
legal learning, and is greatly beloved by
his friends. He is stern, upright and
honest. But with all his legal attain
ments he is not the greatest man at cards
in the Territory. It has been said that
he did not know the jack of hearts from
the ace of diamonds.
In the Radersburg Mining Camp three
persons were sitting around table IN
one of those log-cabin saloons, s'with a
billiard table attached which are SO
common in mining-camps, playing o
small game of three hand poker. A our
rel ensued, which resulted in an aggra-
waited case of assault and battery. This
did not end the affair, for at the next
term of the court, at the head of the
docket, stood the Territory Of Montana
VS.. A. L. Parks, for an assault and bat
cry with intent to kill, on the body OF
Andy Anderson.
The trial came on and the only wit
ness to the ARRAY was Bob Gibbons, who
was the third in the game. Having
been sworn he was directed to tell the
court and jury everything he knew about
the affair. After cleaning his throat, he
commenced by stating that, "Me and
Parks and Anderson were over at Hall
beck's saloon, the second day after cleo
ton, when Parks proposed that we
should havea game of poker. Allagreed
to it, and we went to the back room anC.
sat down to the game; 7 did not know
there was any hard feelings between
Parks and Anderson, OF 1 would not
have played, but heard afterwards"
Here Bob was interrupted by the
Court, who directed him to keep all
hearsays to himsef, land confine himself
strictly to the case.
The witness continued: ''Well, we
sat down to the table. Anderson sat
there, Parks here, and I there (making
diagram on the clerks table.) Parks
dealt the cards Invent blind; Anderson
went blind over me, and Parks would
not see him."
The Judge who is little deaf, WAS in
the habit of making an ,ear-trumpet OF
his hand, and throwing his head a little
forward sideways. Having gone through
this pantomine, he interrupted the wit
ness by asking him:
"What was the reason that Parks did
not see Anderson %
The witness replied: 81 don't know,
but he would not see him.
Proceed" said the Judge.
ssWell, I saw him, he saw, and just at
that minute
'Stop, sir" said the Judge, throwing
himself into a. hearing attitude. ''Dld
I understand you to say that you went
blind?"
eyes, sir, I went blind, and Anderson
he went blind, and Parks he would not
see him, but saw Anderson, and then
he saw"
"Witness," exclaimed the Judge, strik-
ing the bench with his clenched fist,
edo [ hear you right, sir. Do you say
that you went blind and then you saw?''
eyes, SIR" replied the witness. 81
saw Anderson, and Anderson saw, and
just at that
sStop, sir,' said the Judge. "Mr.
Clerk, fine the witness $50 for contempt
of court, and direct the Sheriff to take
him to jail, and there keep him until he
receives further orders from the court.
Call up the next case Mr.. Clerk.
Bob Gibbons was dumbfounded, and
did not awake to the reality Of his con-
dition until the Sheriff laid his hands on
him, when he exclaimed:
s'Good gracious, Mr.. Judge, what
have [ done, that must go to jail?"
The Judge who was purple with rage,
did not deign to reply to poor Gibbons,
but reiterated the order with increased
vehemence, and the members of the bar,
who had been anticipating the fix that
Bob would eventually be placed in, were
,,;4h viii
the rage of the Judge to the highest
pitch. The prosecuting attorney en-
deavored to enlighten the Judge, and
eventually succeeded, but not until he
had produced a pack of cards, and after
dealing out three hands, made the blind
as clear as day to the Judge.
The fine and Imprisonment were
RENTED, order was restored in the court
and Gibbons was allowed to proceed
with his testimony Brooklyn Sun.