Case Name: SARDO v. FONGERES
Court: United States Circuit Court of the District of Columbia
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1829-12
Citations: 21 F. Cas. 490
Docket Number: 
Parties: SARDO v. FONGERES.
Judges: (THRUSTON, Circuit Judge, absent)
Reporter: Federal Cases
Volume: 21
Pages: 490–491

Head Matter:
Case No. 12,358.
SARDO v. FONGERES.
[3 Cranch, C. C. 655.]
Circuit Court, District of Columbia.
Dec. Term, 1829.
Gaming — Billiards—Action to Recover Monet Won.
Money won at billiards is money won at play, within the 5th section of 9 Anne, c. 14, and cannot be recovered if more than £10 be won at one time; which section of that statute is in force in the county of Washington.
Appeal from the judgment of a justice of the peace for $50, of which $48 were won at billiards at one time, and 82 were for the use of the billiard-table, the plaintiff [Michael Sardo] below being the owner of the table.
Mr. Marbury, for appellant
[Lewis Fon-geres], contended that the debt was void by the 5th section of the English statute of 9 Anne, c. 14, which was in force in Maryland, on the 27th February, 1801, and adopted as a part of the law of Maryland, as they then existed; the amount won at one time being more than £10. 1 Com. Cont. 41.
Mr. Wallach, and Mr. Elkins, for appellee, :
contended that, as the Maryland act of 1797 (chapter 110), respecting gaming-tables, excepted billiard-tables, all gaming at billiards was lawful; and that money won at billiards was not within the English statute of 9 Anne, c. 14; and they cited-v. Bland, 3 Burrows, —, and Earl of March v. Pigot, 5 Burrows, 2802, and Act Md. 1797, c. 110.

Opinion:
THE COURT
(THRUSTON, Circuit Judge, absent)
reversed the judgment, with costs of this court, and entered judgment for the appellee for $1, for the use of the table, he being the owner thereof.