The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-06-20
Mr.. Scott's Straight Flush.
A sNewburg Game of Draw Poker in
Which $4,000 was Wagered on Each
Hand.

One of the most remarkable games Of draw
poker" which was ever played in SO unpretend
ing place as Nswburgihas just been brought
to public notice by the institution of legal pro-
ceedings for the recovery of $4,000 which
Francis P. Weed, wealthy citizen OF that city
claims was obtained from him by fraud. Messrs
William and Stephen W. Fullerton OF New
York are Mr.. Weeds counsel, and on Wednes-
day last Judge j. W. Gilbert, in Brooklyn,
granted an attachme mt on all real and personal
property belonging to DR.. Montrevilie M. He'd
ges of Newburg, and William NJ. Scott who il
now in California, the two men who are accus-
ed of swindling Mr.. Weed by means of stock
ed cards in poker game.
The remarkable game, according to the pa
pers in the case, was played one evening last
June in Dr. Hedges dental rooms, corner of
Water and Third streets in NewburgA When
the party was seated DR.. Hedges secured the
deal, and delivered five cards to each player.
The Doctor dealt himself o "full hand" Scott
obtained "four fush," and Weed received
three aces. Scott called for one card, and Sc
cured straight flush, ;" Weed took two cards
one Of which was an ace, making his h and four
aces. DR.. Hedges hand was what is known as
"pat," and he played it without drawing
Weeds first bet on his four aces was, it is said
81 ,000 which his opponents both saw and
raised him 81, 900 each The play continued
with raises of $1,000 until the betting in each
hand reached $4,000 or 1900, when Weed
hesitated and said, "Lcok here, boys, how are
you going to pay this thing if get it?" Scott
and Hedges satisfied him of their ability to
make good any losses they might sustain. and
the play continued until the sum of $4,000
was pending on each hand, the ''pot" having
swelled to the immense amount of $450,000. A
'calP' was then made, and Scott, with his
straight flush" raked the table, Weed and
Hedges being the losers. Whether Hedges
made any apparent settlement or not has not
| vet appeared, but Weed, it is said, compromis-
ed his debt of honor a few days after for $780,
600. He paid Scott $4,000 in cash, and gave
him two notes for $4,000 each, with interest,
one due in six and the other in nine months.
| Scott was going toCalifornia, and he placed the
notes in the hands of f. Bostwick, cashier of
| Stissing National Bank of Pine Plains, Dutch
ess county, who agreed to collect them for ten
per cent of their face. When the first note be-
the payment of SOL 800, the 81 800 being for in
| terest, and when the second note matured he
paid $685. 900 on it and gave renewal for bal
lance, with interest. OF the $85, 900 thus paid,
the cashier who made the collection retained
his ten per cent, $500 for his services.
The story of the poker game had up to this
| time been kept profound secret by all con-
cerned, but after the last payment Mr. Hugh
Moore, an intimate friend OF Mr.. Weeds, be-
came in some unexplained manner, ccgniZant
of the facts. As friend and confdant, he at
once advised Mr.. Weed to appeal to the courts
| and recover his money if possible, and his adj
vice was followed. The victim of this sxtraor-
| binary game of poker now claims that Hedges
| and Scott conspired to fleece him, and that
| they stocked the cards, giving him a hand on
| which he would bet freely, but SO arranging il
| that one of them would have,the winning hand
| He claims that the supposed loss of $4,000 by
| DIR. Hedges was all sham, and that he shared
| with Scott the money extracted from their
| victim.
On the strength of Judge Gilbert's writ Of
| attachment DR.. Hedges house, No A Fourth
| street, in Newburg, was attached by Sheriff
| Odell on Thursday last The sheriff also at
| erty in the Quassick National bank belonging
| to the Doctor, and wedt to the bank on Mon
| day morning for that purpose, but Mrs. Hedges
was there before him, and it is thought sue
| ceeded in removing the securities, opposed to
| amount to about $4,000 and jewels, before
| the box was attached.
| Judge Barnard, sitting at Poughkes psie,
| granted a bench warrant for the arrest of DR..
Hedges Tuesday on the superstition that he had
| gone to Michigan, and OF Scott who is in
California, for the alleged crime of cheating at
| cards. The Doctor returned to Newburg Mon
| day night, however, and was arrested. He is
now in custody of Sheriff Odell. Scott is at
| deaths door with consumption, but a requisi-
| ton is to be asked from Gov. Cornell on the
| Governor of California to bring him back to
| this State. Mr.. BostWick, of the Stissing Ma
| tional Bank, finding that the poker game was
going into court, paid over the SIS, SEQ which he
received as commission for collecting the two
notes to Mr.. Weeds counsel in this city last
Saturday. Hedges house which has been at
tached is valued at $1,000, SO that Mr.. Weed
has thus far received S11, 900 of the 900 he
agreed to pay as a compromise of his debt.
Some interesting developments are expected in
Poughkeepsie when Dr. Hedges is brought be-
| fore Judge Barnard.