Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1907-06-10
PUBLIC SALE OF A GAMBLER.

The Kansas Clty Star recen'iy Con
tanned the following. 1t Was reproduced
By the New York Telegraph last Sstur-
day:
The public sale of q gambler on q
block used for auctioning off negroes
paid for a clock for the city of Alex
andria, Va. Just across the Potomac river
from Washington.
The story is to the effect that on one oc-
cssion Alexandria was infested 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, q supposed pious mer-
chant, fell into snare which was set
for him by the visiting gamblers, aided
by local stool pigeon, After a series
Of games the pious gentleman found
himself out of pocket several thousand
dollars and the gamblers in possession
of his notes FIR large amounts.
The citizen ''made good" But a
lucky thought enabled him to bring about
his revenge on the leader of the black
legs.
He was acquainted with the fact that
there was an old law of the Stste-and
a similar law is still on the statute books
in which it was made and provided
"that if any man cannot show that he is
pursuing some lawful means of procur-
ing livelihood, he shall be sold or hired
out at public auction, or sale, to prevent
by his labor, his becoming chsrgesble to
the town."
Going before q justice Of the peace the
"good citizen" entered charge against
the leading gambler, who was imme-
diately arrested by the town marshal.
He was carried to court, tried, convicted
and the sentence was that he be sold at
public action.
The "gocd citizens" programme
went through without a slip. The
CANISTER was Mt first disposed TO treat the
matter as a huge joke, believing that
with the outlay Of little of his easily
earned money he could secure his
| freedom.
But he did not know the temper Of
the Virginians. He spent the night In
prison and Was taken on the following
| morning to the "block" and put up fol
sale. The first bid came from the "good
citizen" and it was 800. Bidding fol
his own freedom, the blackleg quickly
offered twice that sum.
This was raised to $500 by the feecec
merchant, and in turn to $4OO by tht
gambler. While the assembled crowC
cheere and laughed the two alternately
responded to the auctioneer's appeal
until the bidding reached $4,000.
Then the gambler begged for mercy
pleading poverty. he declared that hi
companions had deserted him and car
ried off the larger part of all winning
made in the town. The "good citizen
calmly raised the bid to 81, 100.
There was no alternative, that gamble
must either be forced into service o
degrading labor, under the supervision
of man who had small CAUSE to low
him, or he must go on bidding for him
self.
When the bidding reached SO, 500 h
was permitted to pay over the amour
and depart from Alexandria, crowd o
hooting, yelling men and boys following
him to the wharf.
The proceeds of the sale Of the gam
bier we're given to the town for tn
purpose of buying town clock ant
building a steeple for the town hall an'
market house.
This was destroyed by fire in 1871
but a new structure was erected on tn
same site, the steeple and clock beinl
| made as near like the old ones as possible