The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1876-04-16
PARKER ON DRAW POKER.
the secret History of Some Recent
Legislature In virginia.
Nov York SUM-

New York SUM-
Dcncon Parker, of Arkansas, known
throughout the South and southwest for
his moving cloqucncc aud his very re-
markable game of poker, is sojollrning in
TINS city. lie expresses himself with
much warmth on the subject of the re-
cent resolution OF the Virginia House of
Delegates Tor The removal from Office of u
county court judge Tor the apparently
frivolous and absurd reason that he Occa-
sionally INDUCED in a little game of
draw. The deacon holds that no Chris
tan gentleman j. fitted To adorn the
higher circles of polite society who is I'M
familiar with the rules that govern this
classic game. lie is well aware that there
has always existed in the Old Dominion
strong preference for cuchrc and seven
up; In fact, that several of her most
eminent statesmen. ana large
majority of both the Senate and the
House OF Delegates had, from long and
constant practice. attained to great per-
lection In the art of cleaning out their
friends and acquaintance by means of
these pleasant social games. But all this
was no reason why the people Of Virginia
at large should. through their representa-
tives in Richmond assembled, be made to
stultify themselve, by declaring the
game of poker, under any circumstances
Inconsistent with the judicial dignity of u
county court judge.
Perhaps. however. when we get all the
details relating to this legislation. the
facts may. In measure, cxoncratc the
delegate from this seemingly dcliber-
ate attack upon the rights of the people
and the time honored privileges of the
bench. Deacon Parker limited that the
tragic end of Colonel Randolph Slaugh-
ter, who lost his life last summer.
at the hands of Gen. Brown.
through an unpleasantness resulting
from frankly avowed difference of opin-
ion between those two gentlemen. as re-
CARDS the proper mode OF playing draw
poker. might really have been at the
bottom OF the unconstitutional resolution
passed by the Virginia house Of dele
gates.
innovations that have of late years been
introduced by the deyotees OF this popu-
lar game, the practice Of playing it with
packs Of cards containing more than four
aces. is in some places looked upon with
great favor. As many as six aces have
been found in one pack. These revolu-
ed by the deacon, who thought them
likely to lead to much confusion: and
they were the immediate cause of the
trouble that led to the sudden demise of
the late lamcnted Slaughter at the
Springs OF Virginia in August last.
II seems that General Brown and the
Colonel sat down for little game OF
draw, one sultry afternoon. Brown for
got TO mention that there were six aces in
the pack, and Slaughter iancied he was
playing with one of the old.fash.
ioned four aced packs. The
result was Il series of miscal.
culatlons on the part of Slaughter. which
finally ended in his being entirely cleaned
out. Just at the end OF the game he be.
came aware of the existence of an unu.
sual number of aces, and thereat he re-.
preached Brown in language more vigor.
ous than polite. In fact he used such
words as swindling and cheating.
Language like this was more than Ma.
jor General Brown could bear. With
great presence of mind he drew bowl,
knife and carefully inserted about six
inches OF the blade into Slaughter's per
son. This closed an unpleasant CONVEX
sation, aud eilectually ended the difficulty
The next day Slaughter was planted in
cheerful little graveyard near the Springs
Some of Colonel Slaughter's friend
held meeting TO examine into this yer,
peculiar ease. General Brown. 'havn.
been cited, appeared. and testified tina
he. more than any one else with TN
single exception OF Slaughter. probably.
regretted the melancholy termination o
this misunderstanding: but that Slaught
er's language had been more than
indiscrect. He had actually and with
out the slightest qualification accused
General Brown Of cheating at cards. Thi
no man could say TO hi, face and live. II,
asked the gentlemen Of the cOmmitte,
whether. under the circumstances. In
had any other course open to him. BE
fore going TO eXtremitics he had cndav
ored to explain TO Colonel Slaughter that
50 far AS regards the actual winning, i
was of no moment how many aces ther,
were in pack. as each player had an
equal chance of getting four or five ace,
every deal. But Slaughter would not
listen TO reason. and while the committe,
cXhonorated General Brown on thu
ground that the provOcation was yer,
great. they mildly remarked their disap
proval OF the act by deliberately putting
themselves on record OF being of the opin
ion that he had been Oyer-hasty in his &C
ton.
Deacon Parker believes this untowart
event to have led TO the passage of tn,
recent resolution by the Virginia house
Of delegates against judicial poker