The Pickens sentinel-journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1903-1906, 1903-10-01
GAMBLER GOLD AT AUCTION.
How an Old Virginia Clock Was Pal
For . .

1 s. 6 .
How an Old Virginia Clock Was Paid
For.
Perhaps no clock in America has a
more interesting history than the one
in the steeple of the City Hall and
market house at Alexandria, Va. Back
in the days before the war Aloxndria
was one of the Southern cities which
was known as q pretty rapid place for
the sporting fraternity, but in those
days 1t was Il square game, and 10
cheating-a gentleman's game from
start to finish.
On one occasion the town had been
visited by several gamblers from the
Southwest who had come hither seek
Ing whom they might dovour." at
length respectable citizen, who oc-
casionally took Il flyer with cards, fell
into a snare which was set for him,
and after a series Of games, carried on
OH different nights, he found himself
aeeced out of something like $500.
AS "true Southerncr" he had to
make good, and this he did without
bickcring, but with the determination
TO got even. He was too honorable
not to stand the hazard of the die.
A. lucky thought enabled him to
bring about his revenge on the black
leg. He had knowledge that there
was an old law in Nirginia-and
similar law Is now on the statute
books-eStablished while she was vet
q colony, in which it was made and
provided" that If any man could not
show that he was pursuing some Glow
full means Of obtaining a liveliho"d'
he should be sold or hired out at auc-
| ton to prevent, by his labor, his be-
coming chargeable to the town.
Going before justice Of the peace
he Immediately entered complaint
against the gamester. The man was
| arrested, tried. and condemned to be
sold Mt auction. Here was Il dilemma.
The gambler was at first disposed to
treat the whole matter as joke. But
he soon found out his mistake. lie
was taken to public stand, put up"
for sale, and the bidding began-the
sale "peremptory" His victim started
the bid with zone hundred dollars"
1.-TWO hundred" said the blackleg.
And SO the gambler and his victim
| went on bidding until the amount
| reached $4,000, when the former beg.
ged to be let off, pleading poverty.
but all his pleadings would not cause
the cheated man to relinQuish his de-
termination to make him pay dear for
what he had done. There was no al
Tentative, the gambler must either he
forced into a service Of degrading
labor, under the supervision of man
who had small cause to love him, or he
must go on bidding for himself, WHICH
he was actually compelledt~ttee to to do until
the sum had reached $500. When he
was peYmitted to pay over the amount
Fiji depart from the town. a crowd Of
hooting, yelling men and boys follow
| ing him to the wharf, where to took
! the steamer.
The citizens then gave the proceeds
of the the man sale" to the city to he
| used in putting up clock and Steeple
on the town hall and market house,
which building was torn down a few
years ago to make room for a larger
| and more modern structure.
Not great many Of the citizens
know the history of the old steeple
and clock. hut Capt. Edward Danger
| field told the building Committee lat
he was particularly desirous of seeing
the stccplc and clock preserved end
that he wished to defray all expense
of having the clock repaired and
"moderniZed'' for the new building.
This proposition was accepted and to-
day the people of the good old city
have practically the same stceple and
clock their old-time citizen made
ganbler pay for.-Iichmond Times.
Dispatch