The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-05-28
LOST THEIR MONEY AT CRAPS.
TWO TENNEsSEANs WANT THEIR
DOLLARS BACK.

George +. King for over $500
Filed in the city Court by II. C.
Gillespie and Marsh II. Polk, Two
Ex-oHicers of the Fourth Tonnes
see Regiment, for Money Lost May
6-Had just Been Paid on and Blew
in All Their Cnsh-AnOther Suit to
lie Filed by the Same Attorneys i'm
Behalf of "a Wife TO Recover $1,000
Lost by Her Husband.
Three cases were filed in the City Court
yesterday which are likely to prove of con-
siderable interest to the local devotees of
The green cloth, both professional and am
ateur.
The suits are as follows: Il. C. Giles
pie against w. }. O'Dell & Co, for $3.50;
II. c. Gillespie against George +. King for
SITS, and Marsh T. Polk against w. J.
O'Den & Co. for $500.
The suits are to recover money lost at
the now favorite game of craps. Giles
pie and Polk charge that they lost the
amounts named while playing in the es-
tablishments of O'Dell and King on May g.
Giiespie's petition against O'Dell & Co.
states that w. J. O'DeH and T. o. Nc
Bride owe him $3.50 for money lost while
playing at a game of chance known as
craps" that the money was lost May in
their gambling room, No Is Congress
street, east. Gillespie states that he de-
manded the refunding of the amount and
it was refused He asks that O'Dell &
Co. be required to answer to his suit,
The suit against George F. King is in
the same manner as that against O'Den
& Co.. except that the amount lost is
put at S175 and Kings place of business,
No. Is Broughton street. east.
The suit of M. T. Polk against O'Den
& Co. is the same as the other two. Polk
states that he lost $3.50 while playing craps
in O'Dell's on Congress street on May
g. and that he demanded that the amount
be refunded to him and was refused. The
parties TO the suits were served yester-
day afternoon, with the exception of
ODell, who is now in Cincinnati, where
he has been for some time. His partner,
T. o. Mcbride, was served however.
Further interest is given to the suit by
the fact that the two plaintiffs. Gillespie
and Polk, are, or were, Off
GERS of the Fourth Tennessee
Regiment, which was mustered
out i'm Savannah the day on which it is
charged the money was lost In company
with other officers of the regiment these
two had considerable money when they
were paid off. That they should have
dropped 1890 in one day and that at the
simple game of craps is rather remark
able, though the gamblers say that craps
is very quick game and that money
changes hands faster at this game even
than at poker.
Some of the officers of the Fourth Ten
nessee bucked the tiger very freely while
here, and 1t may be that Gillespie and
Polk were among the number and that
they desired to get revenge" for former
losses. If this was their intention they
were certainly unfortunate
1t Is said that the two men lost nearly
ell they had; in fact, one of them did
not have enough money to get home on
In their distress they applied to an attor-
ney, who advised them to make a demand
upon the gambling houses where they had
lost their money, for restitution. This was
done, but their demands were met with
scorn. They were informed that mon
played for keeps" in Savannah. The
gamblers told them that they were not
DONG that sort of business, and If they
wanted TO do the baby act'' and "saueal''
they We're at perfect liberty to do so. The
gentlemen have "squeaed" and the cases
are the result
IWisgs Oliver are the attorneys for
Glliespie and Polk. When asked about
tne matter, Mr.. Oliver referred to section
owl OF the state code of 1896, which, I'M
uer the mead of Gaming Contracts" says:
Gamlng contracts are void and all evil
dences of debt or membranes mr. uens
on property, executed upon a gaming con-
s'defation, are void in the hands of any
person Money paid or property delivered
up upon such consideration. NAV be re-
covered back from the winner by the loser
~ he shall sue for the same In six months
aiter the loss, and after the expiration of
tnat time IL may be sued for by any per-
son, at any time within four years. for the
joint use of himeslf and the educational
fund of the county"
This section is of interest for the reason
that another suit is TO be brought by the
same firm against one OF the gamblers
mentioned and another gambling firm TO
recover between $!2o0 and 81 800 The loser
In this case has declined 10 enter suit for
the recovery Of his loss and his wife pro-
poses to take advantage of the provision
OF this section OF the code for action by
an outside party 10 recover the sum lost
by her husband as she says that she and
her children cannot afford the loss She is
the educational fund If she can recover the
other half for herself and children.
There has undoubtedly been a great deal
Oh gaming in Savannah during the pres
ence OF the troops here and the gambling
houses have apparently done a very flour
lshing business This is che first instance,
however, IN which any OF the losers have
acted publicly. Doubtless some have made
demands privately, but there are few men
who are willing to air the fact that they
nave cost their money in gambling houses
The practice of Squeezing" is generally
discountenanced even by men who are op-
posed TO gambling, II Is he'd that man
who goes up against a gambling game
lakes hiss chances If ne wins he can take
his earnings away with him, and the gam
bier has no recourse. Consequently when he
loses he should pocket his loss like a gen
teman," and say no more about it,
The game of craps is said by those pro-
fessionally engaged in the gaming bust
ness to be now the favorite game More
money is said 10 change hands upon this
game than all other games put together.
Faro, which was the gentleman's game "a
score of years ago. is almost forgotten