Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-06-23
ia CHEAT SOLD AT AUCTION.
How Gambler Paid For Alexandria'y
Town Clock,

1 iO"h N'OCks
The public sale OF q gambler on n
block used for auctioning OF negroes
once paid for clock for the city OF
Alexandria. Va, just across the Pc
tomac river from Washington.
In the days agone the historic old
tlty of Alexandria was known IA a
place where all kinds of games suited
to the sporting fraternity could DO
found without difficulty. Stories Of
large sums lost and won are still cur
rent. or these none is more interest
ing than the one which reveals the his
tory Of the old town clock of that an.
Client city
Tho story is to the effect that on ono
OCCASION Alexandria was Infected by n
party OF shrewd gamblers from tho
southwest At that time IN interesting
game could sometimes be made up
with citizens OF high standing. but who
enjoyed brush at cn-ds. One OF
these. II merchant. fell into snare
which was set Tor him by the visiting
gamblers aided by local stool pigeon.
After II series OF Games the gontlemnn
found himself cut OF pocket several
thousand dollars and the gamblers In
possession of his notes for large
amounts.
The citizen ";nndc good" nut n
lucky thought enabled him to bring
about his revenge on the Lender of the
blacklcgs. lie was acquainted with
the fact there WAS nm old law OF the
state-nnl 1t simi!nr law IL stlll on tho
statute hookS-ln which il WINS made
and provided TINT IL any man can
not show that lie !s pursuing some law
full means OF procuring Il livelihood ho
shall be sold or hired out ut public auc-
tion or sale 10 prevent by his lnbor
his becoming cliargcablc 60 the town"
Going before II Justice of the peace.
the good citizen entered q charge
against the lcahIng gambler, who was
Immediately arrested 10y the town mnr.
shnl He wns carried 10 court tried,
convicted. and the sentence was that
he be sold at public auction.
The good citizens" programme went
through without II slip, The gnmcstor
was Mt first disposed TO treat the mat
ter as II huge joke, believing that with
the outlay of little Of his easily
earned money liz could secure his free.
dom. But lie did not know the temper
OF the Nirginlans He spent the night
In prison and wna taken on the follow
Ing morning Go the "hlock" ana put ND
for snlc. The first bid came from the
good citizen" and It was nu even
500. Bidding Tor his own freedom, the
Dlacklcs quickly offered twice that
sum. This was raised TO $500 by the
fccced merchant ana in turn to $IOO
by the rambler. While the assembled
crowd checrel ANA laughed the two al
ternately responded to the auctioneerR
appeals until the bidding reached So
00U.
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 tho town. Tho good citizen"
calmly raised the bid to S2,100. There
was no alternative. the gumbler must
either be forced into n service of de-
grading labor under the supervision OF
n man who had smnll cnuse 10 love
him or he must 20 OH bidding for him
self. When the bidding reached 50.
he was permitted to pay over tho
amount and depart from Alexandria, II
crowd of hootinE, 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 n town clock and building II
steeple for the town hall aud market
house. This was destroyed by fire in
1871. but new structure was erected
on the same site. the steeple and clock
being made Us near like the old as pos.
| sible. Kansas City Star.