The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1874-11-10
Bob Gibbons, "Blind."


FUDGE SERVICE, the associate JUS
~ tice of the First District Territorial
Court Of Montana, is justly celebrated for
legal learning, and is greatly beloved by
his friends. He is stern, upright and hon
est. But with all his legal attainments, he
is not the greatest man at cards in the
Territory. 1t 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, with a billiard
table attached" which arc SO common in
mining camps, playing small game of
three-handed poker. A quarrel ensued,
which resulted in an aggravated case of
assault and battery. This did not end the
affair, for at the next term of court at the
head of the docket, stood the Territory of
Montana VS.. A. L. Parks, for an assault
and battery with intent to kill Andy An
derson.
The trial came Off, and the only witness
to the affray was Bob Gibbons, who was
the third in the game. Having been
sworn, he was directed to tell the court and
the Jury everything he knew about the
affair. After cleaning his throat, he COM
menced by stating that me and Parks
and Anderson were over at Hallbeck's sa-
loon, the second day after election, when
Parks proposed that we should have a
game of poker. All agreed to it, and we
went into the back room and sat down to
the game did not know that there was
any hard feelings between Parks and An
dersou, or i would not have played, but
heard atterwards-''
Here Bob was interrupted by the court,
who directed him to keep all hearsays to
himself, and confne himself strictly to the
facts of the case.
The witness continued
"Well, we Sat down to the table. An
derson sat there, Parks here, and ! there,
(making diagram Oh the clerks table. y
Parks dealt the cards; went blind An
derson went blind over me, and Parks
would not see him"
The Judge, who is little deaf, was in
the habitof making an ear-trumpet OF his
hand and throwing his head little for
ward and sideways Having gone through
this pantomime, he interrupted the witness
by asking him
"What was the reason that Parks did
not see Anderson p"
"The witness replied 81 don't know,
but he would not see him."
Proceed, said the Judge.
Well, saw him, he saw me, and just
at that minute
"Stop, SIR" said the Judge, throwing
himself into y hearing attitude. "Did
understand you to say that you went
blind ?"
eyes, sir, went blind, and Anderson
he went blind, and Parks would not see
him, but ! saw Anderson and then he
saw"
Witness" exclaimed the Judge, strik-
Ing the bench with his clenched fist, "do
hear you tight sire Do you say that
you went blind, and then yon sawP"
Yes, sir, replied the witness 81 saw
Anderson, and Anderson saw, and just
that"
"Stop, sir,' said the Judge. "BIr.
Clerk, fine the witness $50 for contempt Of
court, and direct the sheriff TO take him to
Jail, and to keep him there until he re-
ceives further orders from the court. Can
up the next case, Mr.. Clerk"
Bob Gibbons was dumbfounded, and did
not awake to the reality of his condition
until the sheriff laid his hands ON him,
when exclaimed:
Good gracious, Mr. Judge, what have
/ done, that must 60 to jail?''
The Judge, who WAS purple with rage,
did not deign TO reply TO poor Gibbons,
but reiterated the order with increased We
hemenoe, and the members OF the bar, who
had been anticipating the fix that Bob
would evidently be placed in. were con
vulsed with laughter, which increased the
rage OF the Judge TO the highest pitch. -
The prosecuting attorney endeavOred 10
enlighten the Judge, and eventually sue