Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1885-02-14
A FAMOUS POKER GAME,
The Story of How William II. Scntt Won
$4,000 Recalled by His Death.

A FAMOUS POKER GAME.
Tho Story of How William y. sc"tt Won
016O.OO0 Recalled by His Death.
The name of William NJ. Scott, who
died at Toronto recently, was hcralded
from one end of the, con;;nen, to the
other about two years ago. when he
won the sun of Sl5n,trn in a single
game of poker. Scott was a native of
NeWburg, New York, where he lived
when he played his famous game. The
players in the game We're three we'll
known citizens of that town, one of
whom, the victim, had just become
heir to half a million. This a a man
named Weed. Scott also had money,
and was surrounded by wealthy
friends. The third member of the
party was a. former Sunday school
teacher, a dentist named DR.. Montre-
vile NJ. Hedges. 1t was shown after
ward that the poker pot was adroitly
run up to $780, 900 on bets of at least
$4,000 each. The dealer was DR..
Hedges, the %shrewdest player Of the
three. AS he 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 course the question
arose, Was he drawing to fill a straight
or a flush? Weed applied to the deal
er for two cards, aud the question to be
decided in his case by the others was
whether he was drawing to get four of
a kind or to fill a full hand, a straight,
or a flush. Hedges rested on his oars.
He had enough, which was Of. course
interpreted to mean that. it was any
thing from a straight or a full hand up
to a 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 a little game
held three such hands of cards. When
The betting got up to $4,000 or $500,
WEED WANTED TO STOP,
because as he said. there is not
one of US that will pay if we lose such
an amount" 1t was not stopped. how
ever. After a little Hedges. who had
stood pat with his hand and engaged
in the betting as it went around until
the pot was pushed up to $3.50, 900,
called Scott. Then came the Law
down, and aftcrward Hedges memoir
able words to Weed. This is dread
full. amt it?" OF course, the simple
minded Weed was taken in. He Lad
received a fine hand that would have
nerved even the most timid gambler up
to q strong betting point. 1t was four
of a kind, and they were aces at that.
In any ordinary game a bold better
would have done as Weed did, 90 to
the bitter end. Scott's one draw card
was the corn breaker. Did it fill a full
hand or q straight? was the question
that ran through Weeds mind continu-
ously, while the chips, representing
thousands of dollars, were being
thrown into the pot. "Of course, Il
it's either, my four aces will beat him."
he argued, "while it isn't possible that
Hedges drew better than four accs in
the deal"
When the end came Weed was
struck almost dumb. His four aces
were worthless; Scott had drawn in
the one card he took the right color
and the proper number of spots to
make his hand a straight flush, the
only thing that would down four aces.
Weed attempted to compromise by
paying $4,000. He her thought the
game had been honestly conducted.
But Scott was obduratc and would not
settle. He not only wanted the whole
amount, but he wanted it then and
there, or at least something in settle.
mcnt that would
BIND WEED AND HIS FORTUNE
to the payment of the debt. If he
didn't get it he said he would publish
Weed all owe the town, where his
family stood high in society. This
was more than Weed could stand, and
at the am time, it is said. there were
other strings that were pulled to bring
him to terms. Hedges told Scott to
retire a minute, and he went out. Then
Hedges approached Weed with smiles
and offered his assistance. OF course,
Hedges VAS also Il loser of $3.50, 900 to
Scott. which made the lattrr's win
uings on he game $500, 600. but us it
could not be paid, probably no notice
was taken of such trihing thing.
This is dreadful, amt it?' said
Hedges and added: There is only
one way we al get that money back"
Then he proposed to Weed to mark
the cards and 90 at it again and clean
Scott out. He took his knife and
marked a card with it. Now said
he. 1--WE a 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 innocent
" believed he had been treat d fairly
and no estly; mo, if I cant p ay a
square game, l won't play at all he
Doctor was now at his wits end, and
the victim of the plot walked out. At
the bottom of the 5 cps which led to
the street he met Scott. who was ST ii
stubborn. His pleadin. with Scott was
unavailing. Weed said to him that
he'd always been his friend, and he
didn't think it square to cxa t all Of
the $4,000 0 from hi . The parted
that night with no Understanding about
the payment Of the mo"ey.
The next morning Weed met Hedges
and Scott in the Hedge, laboratory,
where the game had f"eu played.
Soft still demanded payment of the
full amount owed. Wee.l did not know
what to do.
HE DARED'NoT SEEK ADVICE
for fear of publicity, aud the only way
he could gee out of the matter was to
foot the bill and to let it be the last.
He'd es stood ready to give his note in
payment of his 9l5O, 900. loss. land
why shou dn't II" unused Weed.
Probably Hedges will lever pay his
note, but that is no rea on WIN
shouldn't act the part of an honorable
player. Yes, that is best, and III do
it." So Weed and Hedges both paid
their debt of honor with notes. .
In q few days a compromise was ef-
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