The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1907-10-04
A CHEAT SOLD AT AUCTION.
How a Gambler Paid For Alexandria's
Town Clock

=
/ Town Clock.
! The public sale of gambler on a
block used for auctioning off negroes
once paid for clock for the city of
Alexandria, Va, just across the Po-
tomac river from Washington.
In the days agone the historic old
city of Alexandria was known as q
place where all kinds of games suited
to the sporting fraternity could be
found without difficulty. Stories of
large sums lost and won are still cur
rent OF these none is more interest
ing than the one which reveals the his
tory of the old town clock of that an
cient city.
The story is to the effect that ON one
occasion Alexandria was ipfested by
party of shrewd gamblers from the
southwest. At that time an interesting
game could sometimes be made up
with citizens of high standing, but who
enjoyed a brush at cards. One Of
these, a merchant, fell into snare
which was set for him by the visiting
gamblers, aided by a local stool pigeon.
After a series of games the gentleman
found himself out Of pocket several
thousand dollars and the gamblers In
possession of his notes for large
amounts.
The citizen "made good" But a
lucky thought enabled him to bring
about his revenge on the leader Of the
blacklegs. He was acquainted with
the fact there was an old law Of the
state-and a similar law is still on the
statute books-in which 1t was made
and provided 'that If any man can
not show that he is pursuing some law
full means of procuring livelihood he
shall be sold or hired out at public auc-
ton or sale to prevent by his labor
his becoming chargeable to the town"
Going before a justice of the peace,
the good citizen" entered a charge
against the leading gambler, who was
Immediately arrested by the town mar
shall. He was carried to court, tried,
convicted, and the sentence was that
he be sold at public auction.
The good citizens" programme went
through without slip. The gamester
was at first disposed to treat the mat
ter as huge Joke, believing that with
the outlay of little Of his easily
earned money he could secure his free.
dom. But he did not know the temper
Of the Virginians. He spent the night
in prison and was taken on the follow
ing morning to the "block" and put up
for sale. The first bid came from the
good citizen" and 1t was an even
500. Bidding for his own freedom, the
blackleg quickly offered twice that
sum. This was raised to $500 by the
feeced merchant and in turn to $500
by the gambler. While the assembled
crowd cheered and laughed the two al
ternately responded to the auctioneer's
appeals until the bidding reached 49,,
600.
Then the gambler begged for mercy,
pleading poverty. He declared that his
companions had deserted him and car
ried off the larger part of all winnings
made In the town. The good citizen"
calmly raised the bid to $2,100. There
was no alternative, the gambler must
either be forced into q service Of de-
grading labor under the supervision of
a man who had small cause to love
him or he must go on bidding for him
self. When the bidding reached $500
he was permitted to pay over the
amount and depart from Alexandria, al
crowd of hooting, yelling men and
boys following him to the wharf. The
proceeds Of the sale of the gambler
were given to the town for the purpose
Of buying a town clock and building a
steeple for the town hall and market
house. This was destroyed by fire in
1871, but new structure was erected
on the same site, the steeple and clock
being made as near like the old as pos
sible.-Kansas City Star.