Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1884-12-19

ed today infront Of the Arlington. and
the cavalcade was about to start in good
style. tho agent of the society and q
police sergeant appeared on the scene.
and the hunt was indefinitely postponed.
The ladies and gentlemen departed to
their respective places Of abode in .
somewhat huniliated condition, amidst
the unseemly 1eers Of the populace.
AFAmous POKER GAME.
The Story Of How william II. Scott Won
s1so.ooo Recalled by His Death.
New York Suns Toronto Letter.
The name of William NJ. Scott, who
died here the other day, was hefalded
from one end OF the continent to the
other about two years ago. when be won
the sum of $4,000 in . single game Of
poker. Scott was snative of NewburRh,
New York, where he lived when he
played his famous game. The players
in the game we're three well-known citi.
zens Of that town, one of whom, the vic.
tim. had just become heir to half mil.
lion. This was Q man named Weed.
Scott also had money. and was sur
rounded by wealthy friends. The third
member Of the party was former Sun.
day school teacher, : dentist named DR..
Montreville NJ. Hedges. 1t was shown
afterward that. the poker pot was adroitly
run up to $l50, 900 on bets of at least
5000 each. The dealer was DR.. Hedges,
the shrewdest player of the three. As
ne deity dropped the last. card on the
little round table he called out to know
what the other players wanted. Scott
said he only wanted one card. OF courss
the question arose, was he drawing to fill
9 straight or flush? Weed applied to
the dealer for two cards. and the
question to be decided in his case
BY the others was whether be
was drawing to get four of q
kind or to fill full hand, Q straight, or q
dush. Hedges rested on his oars. He
had enough, which was of course inter-
preted to mean that it was anything
from straight or full hand up to u
straight flush. The drawing over, the
faces Of the three frightened up, and it
is safe to say that never before had three
lonely men in little game held three
such hands Of cards. When tie betting
had got mp to 5000 or $1,000, Weed
wanted to stop because as he said,
"there is not tone Of Us that will psy ii
We lose such an amount"
Il was not stopped, however. After q
little, Hedges. who had stood pat with
his hand and engaged in the bettings 90
as it vent around, until the pot was
pushed up to $780, 900. called Scott. Then
came the lay down, and Afterwards He'd
ges' memorable words to Weed, "This
is dreadful, amt it?" OF course, the
simple-minded Weed was taken In. He
had received 9 fine hand that would have
nerved even the most timid gambler mp
to strong betting point. It was four
OF kind. and they were aces ut that.
In sny ordinary game. q bold better
would have done as Weed did. 90 to the
oltter end. Scotts one drawn card was
the cornbreaker. Did it fill full hand
or . straight? was the question that
ran through Weeds mind continuously,
while the chips, representing thousands
of dollars, were thrown into the pot.
"Ot course. if it's either. my four aces
will beat him." be argued, "while it ism t
four aces in the deal"
When the end came Weed .was struck
almost dumb. His four aces we're worth.
less; for while Hedges stood pat on q
king full, Scott had drawn IN the one
card he took the right color and the
proper number of spots to make his hand
straight flush, the only thing that
would down four aces. Weed attempted
to compromise by paying $500. He
then. thought the game had been
honestly conducted. But Scott was
obdurate and would not settle. He not
only wanted the whole amount, but be
wanted it then and there. or at least
something in settlement that would bind
Weed and his fortune to the payment OF
the debt. II he didn't get it he said he
would publish Weed all over the town,
where his family stood high in soc,ety.
This was more than Weed could stand
and at the same time, it is said, there
were other strings that were pulled to
bring him to terms. Hedges told Scott
to retire q minute, and ke went ont.
Then Hedges approached Weed with
smiles and offered bis assistance. vi
course. Hedges was also q loser of $780,
600 to Scott, which made the latter's
winnings on the game $500, 900, but as it
could not be paid, probably no notice
was taken of such . trif1ing thing.
"This is dreadful. amt it?" said
Hedges and added: 'There is only one
way we can get that money back" Then
be proposed to Weed to mark the cards
and 20 at it again and clean Scott ont.
"Now," said he, I'VE can tell IN this way
which are aces and which are kings, and
we'll get square with him that way"
"No." said Weed, who still innocently
believed he hsd been treated fairly and
honestly; mo. if I can't play square
game, I won't play at all" The doctor
was now at his Wits end, and the victim
OF the plot walked ont. At tie bottom oi
the steps which led to the street he mel
Scott, who Was still stubborn. Hit
pleading with Scott was unavailipR
Weed said to him that he'd always beer
his friend, and he didn't think it SONAR.
to exact all Of the $l5OO0O from him
They parted that night With no under.
standing about the payment Of thu
money. S
Tho next morning Weed met Hedges
aud Scott in the Hedges laboratory
where the game had been played. Soot
4 oweds Weed did not knovSvhat todo. II,
j dared not seek advice for fear 81 pnblici
i ty,and the only way be could see out .
the matter was to foot the bull and t6 10
it be the last. Hedges stood ready {.
Igiye 5his note 10 payment OF his $4,000,
10 .. y. Aud Why shouldn't II" muse,
Weed Probably Hedges will neve
pay his note. bnt that b no reason VI,
shouldn't act the part Of 90 honorabl
PLAYER. Yes. that 10 best, and III do it.
10 Weed and Hedges both paid thei
deoe Of honor With Iotes.