National Republican., 1880-09-22
A YERDANT YICTIM.
A Three-Card Monte Case In tho Criminal
Court-Nn Law to Meet tho Offensa.

A Three-Card Monte Case In tho Criminal
Court-No Law to Meet the Offenss.
Three-card monte found its way into tho
criminal court yesterday. and, like all other
instances Of this kind that have come to pass,
the scoundrels escaped punishment This was
not through any leniency Of tho court, prose-
cutting officer or even disposition of the coun-
sci for defense, Mr.. Daniel Il. Cahill, who
openly denounced such transactions, but was
unable, owing to the failure of the law, 10
noet the case at bar and provide a punish
ment. Tho manner in which the victim was
drawn in and done for" was rather aughablc,
aud he related the circumstances IN such
quaint aud original way whilo on the witness
stand rs to keen n steady laugh going among
the officials aud the audience.
George Henry, middlo.aged colorod man
from Fauquor county. Va, last August was
paying q visit to tho nations capital for tho
first time In forty years. At the corner Of
Ninth and streets he met Chubb Jackson. who,
noticing the vordaucy of the old man, imme.
diately proceeded TO work his little game"
upon tho countryman. After an acquaintance
shi had been opened, Jackson produced throe
cards apparently harmless, aud showing them
to Henry, stated that they belonged to his
boss who kept an establishment OH Seventh
street whore prizes were drawn. hut IL the
countrymau would not give him away" he
would show the or sntion Of the whole scheme,
and how Henry, after knowing the way TO
select the lucky card, could visit the establish.
| mont aud carry OF the prize. I he first i'm
strnclion was then gwen and received Hardly
| had IL been finished when ano her colorcd
man happened to como up to them. He very
innocently asked to be made acquainted with
| tho mysterious secret. A short lessen was
given. Then camo business. Jackson told
| tho visitor from Fauquior TO select the lucky
| card Number three said that lie could not
do IL. Jackson said that lie could and
| quietly said to Henry "it is the card with q
| speck oil it,"
Number three offered to bet S. that Henry
could not draw the correct card. Henry was
= little dubious about II, but being bolsterod
up by Jackson promising 10 stand half the
| loss If he was given the same proportion OF
the winning, Henry put the money up in
Jackson's hand. He pulled tho card with n
speck OH it. but found it WAS tho wrong one.
Jackson upbraidcd Henry for running hiri
and his business, and tho latter, without oh.
jecting to tho disposition of the wager, went
| of, and, seeing policeman, stated tho cir
cumstanccs aud put him in pursuit of jack
son, who was brought into court on the charge
| of larceny. The discovery was then made
that tho law would not apply to the case, and
an acquittal was ordered. His honor and
Assistant District Attorney Perry expressed
their regrets that the rascal could not be pun
ished and hoped that the law. makers would
pass II statute to meet this class of oiienses Ms
soon as possible. His honor also warned Jnck
son that he would bo remembered, aud If the
law ever did get fast hold upon him he should
not forget the card scheme in melting out
punishment.