, 1874-04-24
WASHINGTON.
4 Rare Bo0k---The Life and AdVen-
turcs Of Robert Bailey.
A Gambler Of the Old Time---Mor-
ais Of the Patriotic Age.
He Whips Administrations.
Boards the Supreme Court
---Rots in Jail.



| From. Our Oun Correspondent
| WAsHNGroS. April 18, 1874.
For several years I have used some leisurely
diligence collecting tho ahreds Of old apparel, in
order to restore former days in Washington.
This homely task is not without its constituency
and ottentimes folks appear with queer old
books offering them to me for material.
| THE MAN.
Tho "Life and Adventures OF Robert Bailey, r
written by himself, at Bath, Va, published at
/! Richmond int 1922, and youchcd for ION the
honor OF soldier, IN officer, and gentleman y
is the story Of celebrated gambler and turfman
in these parts.
| He was born in Chester County. Pa, Of m
Irish father and Quaker mother; and his
father, wasting - his mothers substance by go
ing security for people. entered tho Patriot army
| and fell, Mnjor, at Cowpens. The widow I'M
migrated, very poor, to Culpepper County, Va,
| and opened roadside-tavern, afterwards 3
| school, and when she married ngain, the boy de-
campcd. For awho he farmed in Montgomery
! County, Md, near Conrads Ferry, but
| finally married tayern-keoper's widow,
and traded in horses. spirits, and mer-
| chandise. He Yves roped in by some Phia-
dephia gamblers. and taught to play, and.
on the way home, ho stopped at the Annapolis
i races. Here" he says, "was COL Taylor, with
T Ti1ago, and Gen. Ringgo4d, with Pichegrue.
There was gambling at Mnnn's tavern, much
the same "a nowadays: roulette equality, etc.
| Learning how to conduct faro bank from such
great gamesters IS Maj. Jack Willis, Strass OF
Richmond, and Samuel Overton, Bailey opened
faro-bank at the Sweet Springs, and in the
Court House building. Whom the ladies once
refused to dance with him, he bought the only
yiollnist, slave, and stopped the balls. Then
he fought duel With 11aj. Tom Lewis, and
wounded him.
Gamblers wero allowed to BIZ sold as slaves, on
conviction, in Virginia aud Bailey, being con-
yicted at Stanton, WAS 80 adjudged He Nbeled
Judge St. George Tucker, and WAS summoned to
appear before the Virginia House Of Delegates
therefor, Dec. "a, 1903. No lawyer would take
his case. The reyerent sentiment of the State
was ns much excited against the gamesters as
are the women in our times against the liquor
interest.
MENTAL PORTRAIT.
Samuel Blackburn, Eaq., attorney, Of Staun-
ton, who defended Bailey, afterwards wrote this
description Of him:
II have never been SO fortunate as to hear
him mentioned as OF good morals, cbarac-
ter, or reputa,ion,- n,-gambling, az far az I know
or believe, being his principal occupation, by
which Tor other means unknown to me) be- is
said to be in the receipt Of large sums; which,
in addition TO bold, assuming manners. an at-
fected generosity III disposition, and familiarity
IN conduct, with total yucuity OF mind as to ev-
cry useful requirement, gives him currency with
the minimizing pat Of the community, without
imposition on tho more enlightened"
Escaping from Richmond, Bailey visited Phila-
delphia, and quietly slipped back when the storm
had blown over.
Ho sold out a great race at Lexington, and
took to swindling roadside travellers out of their
horses with a ratent needle-case game. These
outtagcs provoked general denuuc1at1on, and
Bailey now became desperate, and; went to
court at Stauuton, defied the Saerif'a officers !!
with pistols and dirk aud then, retiring to the
mountain-dist1ict OF Bototourt
RAN FOR CONGRESS-
carried three counties. and barely missed being
elected. He wns made the dupe Of suppositl-
tiously-rich widow, Ann 1urnbull, OF Winchester,
travelled in coach-and-fo up and down the |
CITY, gambling in Georgetown. and running
faro table at Fort Tobacco, with JOHN T. Esme-
nard. In 1912 Bailey patented Tho Fair
Dealer Of tbs char'E ,tusor'g, TO prevent un-
fair dealing at cards.
Ho went to England to sell mountain-land,
followed some Of the nobility to their dicing
hauuts, and bet ESQ, 600, without q cent in his
pocket. Losing, he threw himself upon their
generosity, and they presented him with 50
guincas. He had grand career in France, and
"SAA - ~|A NSo"6@'~"H@s |
to re]on Ann Iurnbull, On whom ne says he
spent fourteen years Of his Life at $l2 600 year,
travelling and opening a taro-oank. or running
'ast horses, a. al the large to"ns; came
stsh naoamo 70 hlcamood IN great sp'eaoor
driving par OF s"ln horses tandem. Mrs:
Iu1nouu by my side; hnd an outrder." He sold
one horse 70 Col; !ay1or. at washington, Tor
= loo. Iu1nbull kept . board1ng-honso at
GeorgetoTn, and boarded Commodore Barney
1hd the bon. John DAWSON, While their host
Bailey suffered TWO months imprisonment in the
jail With Esmenard
nEaoARs OK HORSEBACK
. IN lSo7 Bailey came out OF jail, where he had
lived IN 9 carpeted room: with an excellent bed,
constantly attended BY bis mistress, and at al
e1penHe exceeding that u tho most fashionable |
hotel: and resolved to go to Phlladelphla for |
medical advice. Mrs. Turnbun accompanied
him with coach-and-four, gig and tandem
and outrider. coach1nan aud matchmaking |
70 all seven horses, three servants, madam, aud
1lnsc1f. lie employed such PHYSICIANS as DIS. !
f'ush, Dawson, and Physlc, and they put him On
such low diet that he was reduced to skeleton,
Ind only saved himself by getting royalty drunk
IN champagne Returning With Mrs Turnbna
% Georgetown, he put her sister At school to be
educated. Beng heartily afraid OF the law, he
packed certain George Pearce to open faro