Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-03-22
Playing "Five Up,o
THE GAME WHICH ATTRACTS CUSTOMERS I
BEER SALOON IN THE COUNTY.

THE GAME WHICH ATTRACTS CUSTOMERS TO A
BEER SALOON IN THE COUNTY.
John G. Cunningham, who keeps q licensed
beer saloon ON eth street, in the county, was
placed on trial in the Police Court this morning
charged with permitting gaming in premises
under his control. Mr.. Hosea Gordon appeared
for the defendant. Assistant District Attorney
Armes prosecuted.
Nelson Thurston. colored testified that he
was frequent visitor to Mr.. Cunningham
place. In the back room, he said he had often
engaged In game OF ''fve-up." Sometimes
he played .'seven-up."
Did you play for anythings" asked Prose-
cutting Attorney Armes.
Certainly" replied witness 'We play first
for drinks and then We play ON the outside"
What do you mean by playing on the out
side?' he was asked.
II mean" answered witness, ''that the first
game we play for drinks, and afterward we
pass cents to each other" Witness said
that they never put money on the table, but
always kept it in their pockets. Witness said
that he had seen card playing in the room until
as late as o'clock in the morning He had
heard the defendant say that there was to be
NO MONEY PUT ON THE TABLE.
When game was finished q man named
"Dick" would come in and rap on the table and
say: 'The games up" That meant that the
ored, gave similar testimony. Witness said
they played every other game for money Wit
ness did not know whether the defendant knew
they played for money or not Mr.. Cunning
ham had told them that he wanted no gambling
in his house.
Geo. Wilson, colored, testified that he was in
the defendants place last "Cheusday" and lost
ten cents at two games of ''five-up" He had
only been in the place three times and each
time he saw game in operation.
On cross-examination witness said he only
played two games "caze" he only had two
nickels and when he lost them he had to stop
How many men were in the place Saturday
night" asked the Judge.
'Oh, Lord, judge" answered witness, 81
don't know, there was
WHOLE LOT OF EN-.
There's always more there Saturday nights
than any other time" Witness said that when
he was in the place the table was always ..com-
pletely entirely fulled," and he played on the
benches.
Peyton Holmes, a one-armed colored man,
was the next witness. He assumed the air of a
gentleman of leisure, and informed the court
that he did nothing for living because he gets
S45 a month pension. He told the prosecuting
attorney that he usually went in Cuuningham's
place when he was nearly "busted" because he
knew he could make ''stake" if he could
"catch his man." Sometimes he carried as much
as 500 there with him. so that he could in
crease his pile" Witness said that in addi-
ton to collecting his pension money he some
times got up pension claims. He said that he
had never been put out Of the defendants
place, nor had he ever boosted that he would
break Mr.. Cunningham up.
PoKER-FoUR SIZES AGAINST FOUR KINGS.
Daniel Crismond testified to losing money in
the defendants place. He was playing poker,
and was dealt four skies against his opponents
four kings.
The defendant testified in his own behalf that
he did not keep gambling house. He said
that he had taken money from the table several
times and informed the players that he would
not permit them to play in his place for money.
Several colored men were also called as wit
nesses for the defense.
SENTENCE OF THE COURT.
The court held the defendant guilty of the
charge, and in doing SO the judge said
that it was violation of the
law to permit playing for drinks;
that there was no punishment too severe for
the defendant if such punishment would cor
rect the evil. If the murders committed here
during the past few years were investigated
the responsibility would be traced back to
just such places as this. Tn this
case the court thought the defendant
entitled to some consideration on account
of his surrounding circumstances. fine of
800 was imposed and execution of sentence
was suspended.