The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1882-07-18
BILLS FARO CHIPS.
How w. P. Jackson Broke a
a Faro Bank Here
in 1866.
He Was Fined for Gaming, and
Desired to Pay His Fine
With the Chips.

The following incident, which will he
remembered by MANY citizens Of Sedalia
was yesterday forwarded TO the Central
Law Journal for publication, by promi'
inent attorney Of this city, and, no doubt
will prove of interest 10 the readers of the
BAZOo:
In 1866, while Judge Tut now dead
was Judge of this circuit, the circuit attor-
new, spurred TO il by many of the promi-
nent citizens OF this place, presented in
dictmen:s against a great number for
gaming, which, at that time, had become
so common an evil as TO call forth the
jealous efforts of the officers Of the law "a
suppress it. Nearly every other door OF
the one main street was a saloon, and
nearly every saloon fostered some sort OF
a gambling device. Among others who
were brought before the bar OF justice,
charged with gaming, was noted indi-
vidual and citizen of Sedalia known as
bill Jackson" who, al that time, con-
Quoted some sort of lottery scheme by
day, and INDUCED i'm draw poker or faro
at night. On one occasion, some time
previous 10 the opening of court, Bill had
bought a stack of checks and sat down Ia
buck the tiger" Luck was on his side,
and in a short time he had won all the
bankers checks, but when he came 10 hand
them i'm 10 he cashed he was informed that
the bank was compelled to suspend pay
ment, there being no money in the
treasury.
Bill pocketed his disappointment and
his checks at the same time aud the pro-
prietor of the game left the town and never
returned
Jackson's case was called for trial and
the evidence for the state clearly showed
that Bill had been playing faro, with such
success as TO win all the checks: or, as the
fraternity call il, he won the check rack
and lay out. On the part of the defense, it
was made TO appear that his checks were
redeemed and. the case was closed. Jack
sons attorney argued before the court that
as the checks were not redeemed and as no
witness testified To his betting money, that
the defendant could not be found guilty of
playing for money within the meaning of
the statute.
The court, however, found the defendant
guilty and assessed fine of $40 against
him, remarking that the checks won by
Jackson represented money, and in law
were money, and directed jthe sheriff to
take charge of Mr.. Jackson until the fine
and costs were paid.
The court then called the next case,
which had just fairly begun, when the
proceedings were interrupted by the omi-
nous click, click, click on the clerks desk
at the left of the judges Judge Tut
turned i'm the direction of the sound and
discovered the defendant, Jackson, in the
the act of laying down and counting out
sundry faro checks on the clerks desk.
The conrt inquired what was the mean
ing of such a proceeding, when "Bill'
coolly responded, "Iour honor has just
decided that i'm law these checks were
money, and so thought would just pay
off my fine and costs, as they are of no use
to me-"
This anecdote is literally true and the
names are correctly given. | have never
seen il published or one similar TO il.