Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1880-02-12
Squealing.

In late trial in Evansville, Indiana,
Wiechel was sworn and put on the stand,
and began to explain TO court, jury and
counsel not to speak of curious audience,
the mysteries of the game of draw poker.
''Well, you see,' said he, 'the PLAYERS
sit around the table, and the man next to
the dealer puts up his ante
''Hold on exclaimed Mr.. Brownlee.
''lf your honor please, | don't under
stand"
''Nor do !, said the Court, warmly. 81
can scarcely believe that even men SINFUL
enough to play at cards for money would
put their own female relations upon u table
for sport.
The jury groans aloud.
Il don't mean that said the witness.
'When man puts up his ante, he puts up
a certain amount of money as an earnest of
play. Then the cards are dealt Those
who want TO come in"
''Oh, / see, said the court, with bland
smile; lit resembles the old game of
''smitten,' where the young men are kept
out of the room"
NO" snapped the witness. ''it amt
twice the amount of ante, and is entitled to
IA draw
at is something like lottery, and this
money purchases tickct?" suggested Mr..
Brownlee, with look of profound curiosi-
ty
''No, draw means that if YOU have
come in on pair, you have right to an
other deal of cards. We were playing Jack
pots, and there was good-sized pot ON the
table"
"Who placed that pot on the table?'
inquired Mr.. Brownlee, sternly
"Why, all of 'em!" answered the wit
ness.
WHO were all of 'em ?" persisted the
counsel, with a grim determination. The
Court was leaning anXiously over the table
''All that were playing, y said the witness.
'Glve the names OF all playing, shouted
the counsel, while the excitement in court
went up to fever pitch. The Court was
leaning on both elbows, with his spectacles
on; the jury pricked up their ears, while
one professional, who was "a little incapable,
adjusted his open hand to his ear
''Must | give the names? ?" pleaded the
witness.
''G es !" thundered the counsel
'Well, there was -, and -, and
--, and --, besides Meyer and Miller
and myself The names having been
elected, the Court slid back into hls chair,
the jury sank back upon their spinal points,
counsel stopped to rest, and the audience
sighed as if greatly refreshed. We would
give the names, but they are in so many
morocco covered autograph albums, and on
so many tailors' bills that we think it un-
necessary.
You see, in playing jack-pots you must
hold as high as jacks to"
''Ah, yes, said Mr.. Brownlee, smiling to
the Court, whose lips smiled back while
tie jury grinned rcsponsively. "This game
is Il harmless one. This comparison of 'as
high as jacks doubtless refers to Jack the
Giant Killer, or Jack and the Bean Stalk"
Jack and the" cried the witness.
"Holding jacks means that you must hold
cards as high in denomination as two jacks
in order to open the pot"
That is, take off the lid of the pot, "ex-
planned Mr.. Brownlee, patronizinglv to the
Court.
Take off monkeys mothcr!" cried the
witness, with profound contempt "There's
no pot on the table the money up is called
the pot, and the man who holds jacks can
require the other to bet him or drop out"
Drop out of the window or out into the
next room z" asked counsel, bandly.
care YOU giving me tafy r. asked the
witness.
"Taffy? ?" wonderingly.
eyes, tatfy, and don't you forget it. l
don't take it on a sick"
Counsel argued with the Court that the
plaintiff charged Meyer and Miller with
having jointly won his money, and yet here
were three or four other persons admitted
to have been in the game. He demanded
that Wiechel prove the particular dollars
and cents lost at specified times. This
could not be done, and, at defendants de-
mand, the jury gave a finding for the de-
fendant.