Show AND CARD PLAYERS A terror as a prosecutor and still worse as an adversary at poker at louis gloat kov 29 the beet tale of poker thus far unfolded at this congress wag brought to washington by a returning member from kansas the congressman got it froat judge SI cLane a hale old gentleman now a resident of wichita but formerly of springfield where he knew at the bar abraham lincoln lyman trumbull david dayis ward lamon gen edward baker oliver davis and all abe old timers the judge was prompted to tell the reminiscence by reading in the newspapers about the prominence attained by representative cannon in the interest 1 I knew joe abe old badge said when he was a poor saddlebags saddle bags lawyer in illinois struggling with the iwertz ami the luck to make an hoa eit living he was one of the cleverest men I 1 ever knew two qualities insured his his honesty and alls energy the older members of the bar in the circuit took a fancy to joe and used to put opportunities in his way his first big stroke of luck was his election as p attorney of a judicial the law in illinois at that lima was very bev ere on card playing and public sentiment demanded its enforcement joes income depended upon the number of convictions he secured there was where his energy did him good service the name of joe cannon soon stood or abe fever cst prosecutor the district bad ever known on one occasion we were all attending court in a distant county david was on abe bench and joe cannon wag prosecuting the weather waa cold and the tavern ac corn modal ion wera not the beat judge davis biad the pick of the rooms and saturday evening wa as belt guetta about the judges cr chirt waa to open on monday we had nothing to do but to kill time cannon ward lamon dan voorhees oliver davis ld baker lyman and law student named mann acre some who were present it lone until the table was surrounded and the cards were be aig dealt the game was interesting we sop nahl the bell rang for breakfast sunday morning sunday was a day of rest but as poon aa we bad had supper we started in acain and played until dallett dal leht monday morning when court opened the judge asked the sheriff if be had secured a grand jury the names were called mann the law student was among them the judge looked down the row and selected mann as the foreman we were paralyzed ward gainon leaned over to dan and whispered areat cu i ar alit does the fudge mean 7 hag he forgotten that mann was willi last night we tried to get the judges eye and lo 10 convey our protests against the selection of mann the judge or see what we were driving at our that another and an older roan be chosen for foreman tell unheeded finally joe cannon K cing that alie situation w as getting desperate desu erate went up to the benah and judge said he do you remember where we wee last and what we were doing oh yes said the judge smiling we nere in my room baring a sociable game continued mr cannon the nan you have selected for fore man was there also the judge looked sharply at minn and then asked joe Is be the young fellow that raised me out of 60 the very same fellow sd joe ah said the judge that changes the situation then turning to the grand jury he said in a louder tone and with great dignity mr mann you can stand aside or this term of court the judge proceeded to charge the jury and dwelt especially upon the injurious effects of card playing that night we all met in the room ahe day had been a dull one to all of us except cannon at a previous term he had got fifty indictments against the town people tor card playing most of them had aue into cou t on the opening day pleaded cuilty and paid their fines which in one case included 5 for prosecutor cannon we knew all about it and we entered into a quiet combination to empty joes pockets some how alie luck was against our scheme one after an othar dropped out of the game until at 2 the only men at the table were joe cannon and oliver davis a coffrin of the judge the rest ot us sat around ready to back oliver with the moral influence of our presence occasionally judge davis would glance at oliver hand and say play him oliver for all the games worth ive got the money w hen you run out after aw bile oliver turned to the judge and sigid let me have it cousin david the brixis is upon ua the fudim pulled out slapped i on the table and exclaimed take that joa cannon ii you are able dont get excited judge sail joe awil reach your pile in a few minute and he did it at four in the he raided oliver for the last time we all shook our heads joa swept the table he had cleaned out the whole crowd As be got up be looked around and said gentlemen the next time you put up a combination against joe cannon make it strong enough to win I 1 am prepared duall enough at low interest to pay v our tavern bills |