The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-11-21
Prison Guard Falls a Victim to a
Card-sharper's Trick.
KNAVERY OF A MURDERER
SUBSTITUTION OF PREPARED
DECK WINS HIM LIBERTY.
Jailer Lets His Prisoner Walk Out
and Then Kills Himself By TAX
ing Poison, Preferring Death to
Public Censure A Remarkable
Story of Jail Life.
Chicago Inter ocean.)


Chicago Inter ocean,
81 have seen lots of big poker games
in the course of my sporting life said
the man from Tennessee, at the close
of stiff game the other night, "and
know of one warm game which,
strange as it may seem, was not played
in the ST. Charles hotel, New Orleans.
The poker romancers, you know, all
shove their plots in the old st. Charles,
and 1 do not doubt but that some ire
nendous games We're really played
there. My game, however, was played
in little Jail in a state not far from
the big river which carries the great
poker players to New Orleans. 1t was
years ago. The country round about
was not we'll settled and few gamblers
had reached the state.
81 lived in the little town of D. One
morning we were all shocked to hear a
brutal murder had been committed not
far from my house. A.man and his
wife had been butchered during the
night and their home rifed by robbers.
1t was a. shocking crime. Almost be-
fore the people had time to realize the
awfulness of it, a. messenger came
rushing down the winding roadway and
announced that Simeon Swift, a tray
eler, had been arrested for the killing.
Swift was comparatively unknown. The
people in D. had not learned his bust
ness, and he had been there for ten
days. He claimed to be a prospector a
kind of gold hunter, though later events
made me convinced that he was hunt
ing for his gold with the cards. The
town was very much wrought UP when
Swift was arrested, for many of the
quiet folks had not looked well on his
coming, and besides nobody in the state
was more honored and respected than
old man lawson who, with his wife,
was the victim of the murder. 1t took
hard work to prevent the populace
from lynching Swift, and he only es-
capped for the time because the older
heads We're not positive about his guilt.
He was locked in Jail, however, and a
trusted guard placed at the door to
watch him.
SWIFT IS FOUND GUILTY.
''The next day a stranger came to
the town and said he wanted to open
a law Office. He rented a room, hung
out a single, and went to work with
out any books. When Swift heard that
lawyer had come to town, he sent
word that he needed one to help him
get out of Jail, and a day OR two later
Wheeler, the new lawyer, was allowed
to visit Swift in his cell. They were
given ten minutes private conversa-
ton. and the guard said they were
evidently acquainted. though both par
ties denied it. Wheeler continued to
see the prisoner, though after the first
visit the guard was always at the door
to watch and listen.
1T gor to be near the time Ter the
trial. and the authorities had worked
UP 2 strong case. against the prisoner.
When the case did go to trial. Wheeler
was there to defend the man, but after
a days work the jury filed solemnly in,
and the clerk read the one word.
Guilty Swift did not finch when he
heard the verdict. He continued to
hold his features close while the Judge
fixed the day for the execution, and
then he let the guard lead him hack
to his cell in the Jail Wheeler's plea
for new trial was oyerruled, and the
case had to stand.
THAT night in the cell Guard Ellis
got friendly with the prisoner, because
he knew that their stay together would
be brief Swift had been so quiet that
the guard did not subject him to any
rigid rules, and after supper ellis went
in the cell and sat by the stove. The
conversation did not dwell on the trial
or sentence. The men talked of cards.
Swift said that he would rather count
a poker hand than eat. and the weak
ness seemed to hit the guard.
POKER GAME IN JAIL
I'm little while deck of cards was
produced. and the men were soon in a
fierce game. where the stakes were tiny
chips Of wood. The play went this way
for while, and once ON SWift's deal.
he picked up the cards and said ne
would like to bet money on it without
I1.oy no q winner
and then Swift offered to bet ten cents
that his was the best.
"'Well, just for fun, said Ellis, I
will take the bet, and L will go you five
cents better
You must have something big, re-
piled the prisoner, but I'd like to state
that l am just as much of sport now
as l was ten years ago. I'll see that
cenB and I'll raise you a quarter
Ellis saw the bet and raised it a
quarter more. Then the betting got
furious. Swift pulled out a roll of bills,
and for the time Ellis forgot that his
man was prisoner. He said that he
had money and that he would get it.
He went outside and returned with q
roll heavier than Swift's. The money
was all wagered, and, of course, at
the showdown Swift won.
. Now said Swift, I will play you
this pile against those keys in your
hand. If you win. l say nothing, and
if I win, l go. Seep
ELLIS hesitated. TO make sure that
the thing is square, said Swift / will
allow you to do all the dealing, but [
prefer to play the business on one jack
pot, one showdown, and with you deal
ing. Will you do it. or have you lost
your sporting blood?'
A LIFE WON-A LIFE LOST.
Ellis said he would play. The com
pact was agreed ON, and Ellis took the
cards to deal. When he had shuffled
well, he laid the deck on the floor for
Swift to cut it, and just then Swift
gave sudden jump and pricked his
ears as if he heard some one APP
preaching. Ellis turned his head for
a second and Swift had time to do his
work Like a flash he grabbed the
deck and put down another, which had
bee in his pocket. Ellis did not see it!
Then he went on and dealt.
"'Ill open the pot said Swift.
q" That's me, too replied the guard
Swift called for two cards. Ellis
said he was satisfied with what he had
Two cards were given to Swift,
well, I'll call you for fun, said
Swift.
" Got a flush replied Ellis.
Full house here said the prisoner
and he reached over for the string of
KEYS.
1.-THE loss of the hand brought the
guard to his senses. L am a man of
my word he said, and I guess you
can so. You must slip out quietly, but
not now. I will settle matters with
the sheriff
When midnight was past Swift
sneaked out quietly. Ellis remained in
the cell. Then the town was quiet. In
the morning when the sheriff reached
the Jail Swift was gone. In a rear cell
Ellis was found dead. A tiny bottle in