The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-01-12
MEN ABOUT TOWN.
Short Stories Picked Up in the
Hotel Corridors.
They Played seven-Up for the Verdict-Float-
ing About With an Eternal Jag-The
Merchants and the Drummers.

"Out in Colorado In 1859 l served as
Judge" remarked an old-timer. last night,
land the most peculiar case that ever came
under my cogniZance happened along about
that time. 1t was replevin suit between
two cattiemen named Roberts and Robert
son, respectively, for the recovery of fifty
valuable steers, and it came up before me
for trial. The Courthouse contained but
one room, and when the case was given to
the jury the Judge, attorneys and specta-
tors retired to neighboring saloon to slake
their thirst, while the jury remained in un-
disputed possession of the courtroom,
guarded by single Deputy Sheriff.
''SOme fifteen minutes had elapsed when
the Deputy Sheriff sought me out to in
qure if the jury, who were unable to agree,
might be allowed pack of cards. To this
I gave my consent, and the cards were
passed to the jurors. A few minutes later
the deputy returned with the information
that the jury were still unable to agree, and
to ask if six of them would be allowed to
go down town to play game of tenpins for
the whisky. This, too, was allowed, and
after throwing around the cards six jury
men adjourned to downtown saloon,
where the game was played and quart of
whisky secured. This done, they returned
to the jury-room, and as they entered the
six jurymen who had remained behind
were discovered seated around a soap box
engaged In game of seven-up. Absorbed
In the game they failed to note the return of
their companions, and a moment later one
of the players threw down his cards. and
arose with the remark, High, low, gift,
jack and the game, and Robertson's got the
cattle
Called on for an explanation the victor
stated that as they could not agree it had
been decided to play seven-up for verdict.
This had been done. and Robertson had
won. After a short consultation the jury
agreed to stand by the result, and so gave
their verdict, which still stands in the
records OF the court"
AN ETERNAL JAG.
Il was peculiarly impressed recently with
part of the spirl tualiStic creed" said Rob
ert T. Deylin to some friends at the Palace
Hotel last night. During the progress of
a case in which l was engaged as an attor-
ney, an attempt was made to prove that the
defendant was insane, and among the teSti-
mony introduced were statements to the
effect that lie was spirtuast. A number
OF alleged communications from the spirit
world were also brought in, including one
from man who, while intoxicated, had
fallen down a shaft near Folsom, from
the effects of which fall he had
died. The letter was clearly such as man
would write while in an intoxicated con-
dition, and for the first time learned that
a spirit. according to the spiritualistic be-
lief, remains for all time in the condition
In which the individual was at the time of
death. Here was a spirit roaming around
through space for an eternity with a royal
jag without being compelled to renew it.
This struck me as the most economical
spree Of protracted nature that had ever
heard Of"
BESIEGED by DRuMNIERs.
Country merchants have been so sorely
annoyed by the persistency of the drum
mers," said a hotel clerk last night, that
they have been compelled to resort TO the
ruse of registering under assumed names.
II has gotten so of late that the merchant
who dares to allow his name to go on a
register is literally besieged. Long before
the hour for him to make his appearance
Tor the day his box will be filed with cards
and circulars, and many statesmen go SO far
as to unload bundles of samples upon him.
In addition TO this a score or more VIII
waylay him. and if they succeed in laying
hold upon him, will carry him away almost
by force. This, very naturally, has grown
tiresOme, and very few merchants of promi-
hence now allow their names to appear.
Usually they will explain, and in register
ing use only their first and middle names,
While We, of course, use their correct names
on our books. 1t is probably the best way
cut of the difficulty"