Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-11-06
lexa. Gazette Il Virginia A Advertiser.
BOB GIBBONS "BLIND."

Judge Servls. the Associate Justice OF the
First District Territorial Court of Montana, Is
Justly celebrated for his legal learning, and ls
greatly beloved by his friends He is stern,
upright and houest. But, with all his legal
attaiuments, he is not the greatest man at cards
10 the Territory. Ii has been said that he did
not know the Jack of Hearts from the Ace OF
Diamonds.
Iu the Radersburg Mining Camp three per-
log cabin saloons, with billiard table at
tached," which are so commou 10 mining
camps, playiug small game of three baud
poker. A quarrel ensued, which resulted 10 an
aggravated case of assault and battery. This
did not end the affair for the next term OF the
Court, at the head of the docket, stood the
Territory OF Montana VS.. a. l.. Parks, for an
assault aud battery with intcut TO kill on the
body of Andy Anderson.
The trial came on, and the only witness to
the atfray was Bob Gibbons, vino was the third
in the game. Having been sworn, he was dl-
rccted TO tell the court and jury everything he
knew about the affair. After clearing his throat
he commeuced by stating that ''me and Parks
aud Anderson were over at Hallbeck' saloon,
the second day after election, whea Parks pro-
posed that we should have a game OF poker.
All agreed to it, aud we went into the back
reom and set down to the game; did not knoW
that there was any hard feeling between Parks
and Anderson, or | would not have played, but
heard af,erWard-
Hare Bob was Interrupted by the court, who
directed him to keep all hearsays to himself
and cou6ue himself strictly TO the facts OF the
case.
The witness continued: "Well, we set down
to the table. Anderson sat there, Parks here,
and there (uaklug diagram ou the clerk
table,. Parks dealt the cards; | went blind;
Anderson vcot bllud over me, aud Parks would
not see him.
The Judge who. was little deaf, was in the
habit OF maklrg an ear trumpet OF hS hand auG
throwing his head little forward aud sideways
Having gone through this pantomime, be inter-
ruptcd the witness by asking him:
''What was the reason that Parks did not see
Audvrson?"
The witness replied Il don't know, but he
would not see him.
'Proceed,N said the judge
''Wcl, saw him, he saw, and just at that
minute
Stop, sill" said the Judge, throwing himself
iuto hearing attitude. 'Ila L understand you
to say that you Went bhud?
Eyes, sir. went blind, and Anderson be went
blind, and Parks would not see him, but saw
Witness, exclaimed the Judge, striking the
bench with his c!euched fist. Dol hear you
right, sir? D.. you say that you went blind aud
then you saw Z
", S, ir, replied the witness. u saw An,
derson and Anderson saw, aud just at that.
Stop, sir, said the judge. MIR. Clerk, fine
the witness fifty dollars for contempt OF court,
and direct the sheriff to take him to Jail, and
there to keep him until he receives further or
ders from the court Call up the next case.
Mr. Clerk
Bob Gibbons was dumbfouuded and did not
awake to the reality of his condition until the
sheriff laid his hands on hun, when ne ex-
claimed
Good gracious, Mr.. JUICE, what have |
done, that must 30 to jail 2
The judge, who was purple with rage, did
not deign to reply to poor Gibbons, but relt-
Grated the order with increased vehcmence,
and the members Of the bar, who had beer an-
ticipatiug the fix that Bob would eventually be
uiaced iu, were couvulsed with laughter, which
increased the rage OF the judge to the highest
pitch. The prosecuting attorney endcavored TO
cnghten the judge, aud eventually succeeded,
but not until he had produced pack OF cards,
and after dealing out three hands. made the
blind as clear as day to the judge.
The fine and Imprisonment were reunited,
order was restored in the court, and Gibbons
was allowed 10 proceed with his testimony.