The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-25
A GAMBLERS AMAZING NERVE.
Calmly Confessing Murder After Being Ac-
quilted by the Court.


quilted by the Court
Kansas City Times
The career of Charles Fouik, alias Charles
Watson the gentleman gambler who was shot
and killed at Hot Springs by negro policeman.
short time ago, was an eventful one. He was
tall and handsome cool as an iccie, dressed in
exquisite taste and his manner and converse
ton were every inch the elegant. refined gentle
tleman. His friends never wearied of lauding
his bravery, and his enemies did not gainsay
them.
AS an instance of his great nerve, a sporting
resident of Kansas City tells a reporter the fol-
lowing narrative: "Some years ago soldier
was found, with bullet in his heart, on
bridge near Carlisle. He was of gambling pro-
pensities and an avowed enemy of Foulk. The
latter, with another gambler, was charged
with the crime and placed trial The
men were given separate trials, and Foulk
was first tried and acquitted on an undoubted
alibi. By the way, Foulk was firm believer
in the Tony Weller doctrine, and in all the
scrapes in which he was concerned he never
failed to prove an alibi The evidence in the
trial of Fou)k's supposed accomplice was damag-
ing to the prisoner at the bar One lady, who
lived near che scene of the shooting, identified
the prisoner and swore that she heard pistol
shot, ran to the door and saw him running. bat
less, from the scene of the murder. She was GER
tain that it was the accused man, because there
was lighted gaslamp near her door which en-
abed her to get a good view of his features.
Other evidence equally strong was introduced
by the State. and conviction seemed assured.
"When the defense opened no one believed
that the case made by the State could be shaken.
Foulk was the first witness for the defense, and
as 1t was known that he was to testify the court
room was crowded to suffocation. AS he was
sworn and took the stand there was perfect
quiet. Every one had an idea that there was
something coming hut no was prepared for
what happened AS Foulk took his seat on the
witness stand he turned to the stern, gray haired
judge. and in a clear, calm voice, that could be
heard In every part of the room, said:
Judge, before testify in this case want to
ask you question. Can l ever be tried again
for the killing of that soijierP
For moment the silence was almost pain
full. People in the rear of the room placed their
hands back of their heads in order hear better,
but no one but the venerable Judge seemed to
have guessed what was coming. He evidently
did. for he replied in solemn. severe tones that
were rendered all the more impressive Dy the
deathly stiffness:
$50 far as human law is concerned Mr. Foulk,
you are free man. No earthly tribunal can
try You again. For any part you may have
taken in this murder you will have to answer only
to the great Judge before whom we must all be
arraiened Between you and your Maker this
case now rests.
Il heard those words and shall never forget
them Foulk was the only person in the room
who was not affected. AS coolly as if talking to
a circle of friends, he replied:
and know the law, ard believe you J. wish to
soiemnly swear, then, that | killed that soldier.
You have acquitted the wrong man.
1.-THE effect of this cool. deliberate statement,
made in a voice that never trembled and could
be heard by every one in the court roopl may be
imagined. At once the silence was broken by
EXPLANATIONS of surprise and Indignation. which,
however, were quickly suppressed by the judge.
Then, as cooliy as he had smade the confession,
Fouik told the story of the murder. He said
hot hax h. h~;9 Ako
soldier going in an opposite direction. They
were old enemies, and had recently had quar-
rel over the green cloth. Foulk said that as
soon as the soldier saw him he drew his saber
and started for him. Not wishing to kill him.
FOulk continued, L drew a little old fashioned
pepper-box revolver and shot at him four times.
but as he still kept coming at me, | jumped off
The bridge. drew my forty five and killed him. I
did it in self-defense. If had not killed him, he
would have killed me-
1.-The evidence of the lady who swore that she
saw the prisoner at the bar running hatless past
her door was easily explained, and furnished an
other instance of Foulks wonderful nerve.
When he jumped off the bridge his hat
fell off and floated down the stream.
When the soldier fell Foulk ran up the street,
but did not see the lady standing at the door.
When he had gone little way he remembered
that his name was written in his hat, and that if
II was found it would be used as evidence against
him. Waiting for moment, and seeing that no
one had been attracted by the shots, he dellber-
ately returned to the scene of the shooting,
waded down the stream. found his hat and went
up town through alley. That was nerve.
The lady was honest in her testimony, but she
WAS simply mistaken. was afterward proved
cOnclusively. OF course the defendant was dis
charged AS to Foulks alibl. we'll, he could
always get an alibi when he wanted one. HIS
story of the killing was afterward proved to be
exactly correct. Altogether. the scene in the
courtroom was a very dramatic one, and l doubt
IL &c has been eOualed,
after this episode Foulk lived the life of
rowing gambler, visiting almost every great city
in the West AT times he won enormous sums
OF money and dispensed hospitality with lavish
hand. His gambling experience would make n
very readable book. He was cool. ,.lucky
player, with the impassve countenance and won
derful nerve so necessary to the successful gam
bier. To lose or to win was apparently the same
to him, and he seldom without money. He
wss firm friend, with the generosity character
istic of so many gamblers, and, when he was in
luck, his friends shared it with him. But he
was bitter, vindictve enemy. With all his
faults there have been many worse men than
Foulk who did not have SO bad a reputation"