The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-05-02
THE WINNERS LOST.
Three Successful Gamblers Play
. Losing Game.
THEIR VICTIMS TURNED on THEM


John Thompson. Edward Moore and W.
r. Nichols were convicted of gambling in
violation OF the city ordinance. before
Justice Rivers yesterday afternoon, and
fined so and costs each. The trial was one
Of the most entertaining that has occurred
in the justice courts for some time.
The three defendants were brought into
police headquarters late Tuesday night.
arrested for gambling on complaint of Il.
NJ. Clarke and e. Phelps. who claimed that
they had lost everything but their clothes
in crooked game engineered by the three.
The three gamblers Immediately had the
two gamblers placed under arrest on the
same charge. and the quintet was held for
trial.
The cases against Clarke and Phelps were
dismissed today upon motion of the city
attorney, and only the winners we're tried.
e. N. Clarke, the complaining witness.
was the first to testify and be gave full
account of the manner In which he had
been steered against the tiger" He was
musician playing under engagement in the
Stag saloon. Tuesday afternoon he was in
this saloon with Phelps when they met w.
r. Nichols. After round or twoof drinks
and a game of whist, Nichols proposed q
mans saloon, and they had soon for
saken the stag for the tiger. They
were induced to buy dollar stand of chips
The drinks went around several times.
When he entered the game he had 500. .
diamond ring and gold watch. John
Thompson. who ran the room, and Edward
Moore soon entered the game. Clarke lost
constantly; the money. watch and ring
went into the tigers voracious NAV, and
he was about to send out for more money
by Phelps.
Phelps had been lying on sofa during
the latter stages of the game watching the
playing, and discovered that the game was
crooke.i. When Clarke proposed to send
him out for more money, he quietly told
him that he was being robbed. and instead
of writing an order for more money, he
wrote on the paper. s'Get q policeman.
Phelps soon had an officer there and the
trio were arrested.
Phelps is q piano tuner and musician,
who came to town Saturday night. He is
slim, smooth-faced boy, who has evil
IDENTIFY seen something Of the world by gas
light Upon the stand he related, with
charming freedom. the details OF their
brush with the gamblers. He entered the
game with $40. They drank heavy book
beer two or three times around before be-
ginning. He also bought 81 worth of chips.
He lost them as fast as he could put them
up. Whether they went through the hole
in the table or were won he would not be
positive. He lost his SO just as fast
as he could get rid of his chips,
never winning a chip. When his
money was gone he reciined on the sofa
and went into book beer doze. They went
into the lair in the afternoon. and bucked
the royal Bengal desperately until mid
night. On recovery from his doze he heard
four sevens called. and the last of his part
ner's $50 disappeared. He saw him put up
the ring and heard them allow him SIS on
his watch. and then he was sent after q
policeman.
The defendants did not take the stand.
No argument was made on either side.
The court rendered . decision as stated
above.