The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1893-07-05

We presume that few. at least. of the people
afflicted with the insanity of egotism sometimes
vulgarly called the big head) are sufficiently
punished from their contact with wheels OF for
tune and the like. at the races last week. One
fellow from Kent came over. and thanks to the
protectorate assumed by level headed friend.
who dragged him away at the right time. went
home laden with about $l25 % of capper's spOils.
Straightway the gambling fraternity of the place
put in their appearance. and in accordance with
the laws of the universe emptied their money
bags to the enrichment of those with whom they
came to play the game of rob and be robbed, less
accurately called win and lose. The fates. how
ever, smiled upon one of their number. who of
course returned on the next day as soon as the
| railroads could get him here. accompanied by a
reinforcement of local talent. with craniums
duly enlarged for the occasion. But this day
| was his Friday. and after dropping all and more
| than he had won on the preceding day, he de-
cided that gam bling-at least such gambling as
he had been engaged in-was very immoral and
| harmful; in proof of which proposition. he
looked into his pocketbook. alike innocent of
gold, silver, or paper. Actuated with this noble
sentiment. he set out to vindieate his conversion
in the execution of a righteous purpose. possible
only to those upon whom dversity throws
powerful ray of light.
This will explain the sight witnessed by those
in attendance Thursday afternoon. in which an
irate individual, with an I've-been-lald. out
at-gambling" expression on his face. was seen
chasing in hot haste nimble- footed feecer.
whom the chaser said had actually had the au-
dacity to cheat him while gambling with him for
money. Away they went-now in. now out, now
mn. now down-through the grand stand. past
| wondering countrymen who were half inclined
to stop the fugitive. but couldn't quite scare up
courage enough to face his determined counter
ance, almost running into knots of people intent
on race track prophecy. and exciting divers kinds
of folks into divers kinds of astonishment and
perturbation. The wicked gambler and his in
| necent victim rushed out of the grounds like
| twin cyclones and it seemed as if the scales of
| outraged Justice were about to be again balanc.
| ed, when old nick put it into the head of the
painting fugitive to hail the driver of buck.
board rig en- route for town. who. not knowing
how he was playing into the hands of his Satanic
| Majesty, good naturedly stopped and took the
| exhausted runner on board. The spirit of the
| chase seemed suddenly to take hold on the steed.
who responded nobly to a series of whip cuts
from the manipulator of the reins. who for some
unaccountabls reason was seized with sudden
| desire to make as fast time as possible with his
feet footed equine. The nag was probably fur
| ther excited to race track speed by the shouts
| and feet racket of the pursuer. who valiantly
| kept on in his course until satisfied beyond
peradventure that the old horse could run faster
and kick up more dust than he.and he withdrew
| from the heat. distanced. But who can defeat
the ends of justice2 A midnight Nemesis was
| even then on its way to avenge the wrongs of
the unsophisticated citizen who had been so out
rageously treated while engaged in the honest
pastime of gambling. About midnight there
| was an arrest made in one of the Etna House
| sleeping rooms. and q sleepy specimen of the
| genus gambler was confronted with warrant
sworn out by an officer at the instance of an in
dividual answering to the musical name of Hes
lop. charging him with having run gambling
contrivance at the Ravenna naces. The prison
or was arraigned the following morning before
His Honor, the Mayor. and very discreetly con =
sented to be fined $1,000 and costs. without any
ado. He gave his name as George Mairs. to which
there should be an alias of Rogers. He was then
urged to swear out papers against Heslop. but
refused to do so. saying he was not that kind O
fellow. The officer thereupon swore them out
himself. and went to Kent after his man. but we
are informed that no arrest was made.
Thus were financial morals and the gamblers
code vivifed and exalted.
There were many victims who are now on tn
! mourner's bench. Ravenna disciple of Faus
due thanks for the efforts made in behalf of thos
who tried to turn an honest penny with tn
gamblers.