Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1903-12-10
GAMBLER SOLD AT AUCTION.
How an Old Virginia Clock Was Paid

HOW an Olu virginia NloCk was RAID
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 Alexandra
was one Of the Southern cities which
was known as a pretty rapid place for
the sporting fraternity, but in those
days it was a square game, and no
cheat1ng-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 deyour." At
length a respectable citizen, who oc-
casionally took flyer with cards, fell
into a snare which was set for him,
and after series Of games, carried on
on different nights, he found himself
fieeced out Of something like $1,000.
AS a true Southerner" he had to
make good, and this he did without
pickering, but with the determination
to get even. He was too honorable
not to stand the hazard Of the die.
q lucky thought enabled him to
bring about his revenge on the black
leg. He had knowledge that there
was an old law in Virginia-and a
similar law is now on the statute
books-established while she was yet
a colony in which it was made and
provided" that If any man could not
show that he was pursuing some law
full means of obtaining a livelihood
he should be sold or hired out at auc-
tion to prevent, by his labor, his be-
coming chargeable to the town.
Going before a justice Of the peace
he Immediately entered complaint
against the gamester. The man was
arrested tried, and condemned to be
sold at auction. Here was dilemma.
The gambler was at first disposed to
treat the whole matter as a joke. But
he soon found out his mistake. He
was taken to a public stand, put up"
for sale, and the bidding began-the
sale "peremptory." His victim started
the bid with lone hundred dollars"
1.-Two hundred" said the blackleg.
And so the gambler and his victim
went on bidding until the amount
reached $1,000, when the former beg
yed to be let off, pleading poverty,
but all his pleadings would not cause
the cheated man to relinquish his de-
to make him pay dear for
what he had done. There was no al
tentative, the gambler must either be
forced into a service Of degrading
abor. under the supervision Of ma
Who had small cause to love MIN, OF ne
must 20 on bidding for himself, which
,e was actually compelled TO do until
he sum had reached $500, when he
vas permitted to pay over the amount
nd depart from the town, crowd OF
footing, yelling men and boys follow
ny him to the wharf, where to took
he steamer.
The citizens then gave the proceeds
( the the man sale" to the city to be
sed in putting up clock and steeple
n the town hall and market house,
7hich building was torn down few
ears ago to make room for larger
nd more modern structure.
Not a great many Of the citizens
now the history Of the old steepls
nd clock, but Capt, Edward Danger
cid told the Building Committee that
q was particularly DESTROYS of seeing
le steeple and clock preserved and
rat he wished to defray all expense
. having the clock repaired and [
nodernized" for the new building. s
his proposition was accepted and to- |
az the people of the good old city
ave practically the same steeple and J
ock their old-time citizen made a ,
ambler pay for.-Richmond Times
isnatch