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Show j The Mercy of the Court. His honor Judge McKean gave a Mr. Smith, a gambler, a benefit yesterday. yes-terday. The knight of green cloth had been indicted by the grand jury forpljing his trade at the Central Pacific town of Terrace. When he learned that he had been indicted, Smith surrendered to a deputy marshal, mar-shal, and yesterday threw himself upon the tender mercy of the court. Through the diatrict attorney he related re-lated a very affecting story telling how he had "sworn off," was going ca-t for his health, and lots of other things that wore melting in their nature. The judge appeared to "take it all in," and though be did not weep, everyone thought Smith' story had had a softening effect on the - ourt's heart. His honor read the "sport" a long and useful lecture on gambling, and said he was going to be lenient with him (Smith), giving him the benefit of his good intentions; inten-tions; andjust as all in the court room were thinking how finely the pasteboard paste-board had gentleman played his hand, and how fairly he had struck the "nail on tho head" by pleading guilty and telling his plaintive story, Judge McKean Mc-Kean fined him $300 and $69.30 cost the extent of the monetary punishment punish-ment allowed by law. Smith's breW supported his under jaw for the balance of the time he remained in court. However, he staggered to the clerk's desk and let go of enough . lucre to square hia account on the Third District court books. Smith says he doos not intend to buck the t:gcr any more, but if he should do so, and be indicted for it, he will be apt to plead guilty and throw himself on the mercy of the court with a "copper." |