The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1897-06-25
LOOKED LIKE A SKIN.
HOW MoRRlsSeY AND scovEL BEAT
APAT STRAIGHT AND THREE ACES.

APAT STRAIGHT AND THREE ACES.
Raises ~ the Proper Time and Of Correct
Amounts Did the Trick IN orrissey Got
$1,000 Ont 81 the Po. scovsi Got The
Rect and the Others Got Left.
The passing Of the Crystal saloon.
Gone. but not forgotten. Erected in
1898 Raced only few days ago. The
Crystal saloon. which adjoined the FreaI
House. was for over 40 years tine princi-
pal and about the only rendezvous for
sporting men in this city. IL was the
resort Of such well known men as John
Morrissey, John Daily. Colonel Jim SEQ
vel and others. Stories have been told
Of plays Of faro when the limit was the
sky. and where the checks were piled
ON a card n high as the ceiling.
Many good stories are told Of big
games played in the Crystal. One Of the
best is of the great poker game in which
the late John Morrissey and Colonel
Jim Scovel were the two important
players. 1t was nearly 80 years ago. II
was bleak December night. This was
before Scovel was sent to the United
States senate by the Jerseyites. and
when Morrissey was at the height Of
his prominence. 1t was . six handed
game Of draw. The game had been lag
ging ON for three hours without any ex-
citement. Morrissey was about %. 900
winner. Scovel was loser Of about half
that much. The play which made this
story came up about . O'Clock in the
morning. John was the dealer, Scovel
sat to his left and was the first man to
speak. 1t was . $40 "jack."
Pass" said the big colonel, never
looking at his hand.
The next man did the same as SEQ
vel. but the player who followed him
opened il for el20. the size of the pot.
The next man stayed, the next passed,
and when IL came 10 Morrissey he tilted
1t $3.50. It was now Scovel's turn.
There was $500 now in the center. Sco-
vel was q poker player Of the old school.
He would lay down tours as quickly az
the amateur would draw four cards to
an ace when il cost 600. and he would
play three card fush IL the pot was
worth winning ct all. Scovel looked at
his hand when Morrissey had finished
putting in the checks He stared at
John for q few moments. "a the time
fun bling his checks. and then in cool
way went down in his inside pocket
and pulled out . large wallet
I'm raise you $780," Jim said.
The man who had opened the pot saw
both raises, for he sat with nice pat
straight in his hand, and the next fel-
low put in $l,l7o. Morrisaey was non
plused when il came TO him. II was at
least 10 minutes before he put in the
1910.
I'm in so much might as we'll
stay" he remarked, as he picked mp the
deck. "How many, Jim?'
Three" answered Scovel. land see
that they are good ones"
"Oh. I've got you beat" chirped
John. a. he dealt out the required num-
Der.
I'm play these" was the answer Of
the man who held the pat straight
That's a good thing" said Morris
sey. looking in surprised way ut the
man.
"Give me two" was the order Of the
next man, and he got them.
well. only want one, and I don't
need it ut that" remarked Morrissey.
~ he took the top card
The man who had opened was one Of
those fellows who are always afraid of
q one card draw, and he merely Clipped
20 cents. The next man was there with
three aces cold, and he threw a $50
greenback in the center. 1t was now
Morrissey's turn. He had "skinned"
his hand of two or three times.
Five hundred better. said he. with
out moving Q muscle.
During the play Scovel had been lean
ing back in his chair watching his op-
ponents. The gallery" which 10 the
name used for the spectators who con-
gregate around the table. was more ex-
cited than the playera The center Of
the table was piled with bills.
1T seems like q shame" exclaimed
Scovel, but I'm going TO raise you e., :
500. John" and suiting the action to
the word he counted on that amount in
bills and threw il in the middle.
The man with the pat straight passed
without hesitating, and the next with
three aces concluded that his hand
wasn't worth $4,000 more. 20 be, too.
dropped out
How about splitting the pot Jimi''
asked Morrissey.
Never" replied Scovel. but Ill
let you take your last raise out"
Make il $1,000" said Morrissey,
land I'll 60 you"
IAN right" said Scovel. "What'd
you have?"
"A lalla-pa-loosa." answered big
John, and threw his hand TO Scovel.
There was . jack Of hearts and deuce.
tray, four and i've Of diamonda
Soovel turned his hand over and
showed the jack Of diamonds, queen Of
hearts, jack and seven Of clubs, and ace
Of spades; no had . solitary pair Of