The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-04
RAvAGEs OF POKER IN VIENNA.
Everybody Plays. and Police Take a
Hand NOt According to HOyIe.
London Telegraph.


London Telegraph.
Nothing that the Americans have intro
dCced to Vienna has met with such an en-
thusiastic reception there as the game of
Poker The four fings have more admirers
than the four sisters Barrison, and the en-
terprising courage of the Americans meets
With less notice than their ability to as
found an adversary with an empty card.
The passion for the game of poker has
spread with such amazing rapidity that it
recalls the hazard epoch, the game that at
one time marked the dividing line between
the Austrian aristocrat and his social in
feriors. The difference now is that every
n9dy plays In the cafes the jeunesse doree
Join eagerly with merchants lawyers and
clerks in the fascinating game. In private
circles poker is play ed in the best houses
by people in excellent positions and what
Increases the evil is that it has been taken
up with enthusiasm by ladies. In winter
the 1ours and in summer at the fashionable
baths and watering places. groups of la
dies engage in the favorite game with all
the ardor of those half-Day officers who.
after the disbanding of Napoleons armies.
spent their days and nights at faro. Re-
peated cases have occurred of ladies being
unable TO pay their weekly summer pen
sion through losses at play. They leave
while they come TO VieEra for fresh funds,
which they are often obliged to seek from
the money lenders at enormous interest.
70 such disgraceful extremes has this
game led that the police have resolved to
put an end to it,. In the Austrian. code
there is article forbidding games of haz-
ard but what hazard specifically includes
Is not stated; certainly not poker, as 1t is
or comparatively recent date. There is.
mentioning certain forbidden games but
poker is naturally not among them. Learned
9urists go so far as to say that, according
TO the edict named, every game at cards is
game of hazard, in which chance and not
combir alton on the side of the player de-
eSides the result. Some years ago the po-
lice. relying on this law. brought a party
of poker players before the court. The first
}udge-such a case in Austria is obliged to
De carried into the lower court-sentenced
the players to fine, while the appeal court
acquitted them, as the four learned judges
of the latter tribunal declared that poker
is decided by both combination and chance.
and that therefore it is not game of haz-
ard In consequence of this decision the
rage for poker spread amazingly; in fact,
There are cafes whose proprietors exist only
upon the proceeds of poker playing. as the
charge for cards to each player is about
bs. So manyacomplaints have now reached
the police from parents, guardians. wives
ana husbands that it is resolved to take
tne suppression of this dangerous amuse-
ment seriously into consideration. The YER
cannot be accepted as precedent either
by the police, the first judge or the four
only established in Austria when. after
Verdict by the four judges, the attorney for
the crown appeals 10 the Supreme Court.
Inc police have now brought to the notice
or the court a case of poker in a cafe in
which two lawyers. two manufacturers, and
man of private means are involved. The
case, which was at first carried before the
single judge. was very amusing. The judge
called upon two persons in the court not
connected with the charge to listen to an
explanation of the rules of poker. They
were then ordered to play the game before
the Judge in court. that he might decide
now far chance was involved in IL. The two
lawyers charged are highly indignant with
the police for having made examples of such
respectable persons as themselves and their
Partners to test the fllegaiity of poker One
OF them caused much amusement by declar-
ing that the police themselves played the
game. Another inquired of the two inde-
pendent persons selected to play in court II
they had ever played poker before, and were
answered in the affirmative, whereupon the
attorney for the accused party demanded
The citation of these two gentlemen before
the court This the Judge refused, as the
Austrian law prohibits the punishment OF
gamblers who betray themselves and others.
Finally the judge decided that poker is
game of hazard, and fined each player
sovereign. Fortunately no foreigner was
among them. or by the Austrian law he
would have been expedited over the FROM
TIER. The sentence Will. Of course, be re-
Tered to she Appeal Court, and as other
judges must also consider the question, It
VIII probably be several years before the
Legality or illegality of poker Is Needed TIL
then the police authorities have forbidden
poker IN all public resorts, but IN pflvate
houses the game viii go on more furiously
tnan ever. famed BY public opposition,