HOW FIVE JACKS BEAT FOUR ACES.

Dunstan Times, Volume 643, Issue 643, 14 August 1874, Page 3

HOW FIVE JACKS BEAT FOUR ACES.

(POKT SMITH HEIUi/D.) During the session of.thb United States District Grand Jury, a witness was called before them named Scipio Choteau, a halfbreed Creek Indian and negro, bright, sharp’, and intelligent. He was the last witness to be called before adjourilrtifeut that day. After examination, some one of the Grand Jury who knew him asked him if he was the man who had four aces beaten. lie answered, “ Yes, sah ; I’s de man.” “ Will youdiave any objections to telling it ?” “ I’se afeared it will get me into trouble but if the Judge is 'Willin’,” appealing to the foreman. “ I will tell it.” The Judge consented ; thenlfScipio said : “ You see’ljlivo on the cattle trail from Texas through the Creek country' to Kansas, and [~was*ont on de road ’one day and I meets a gentleman ahead of a big drove of cattle. “ Hesays.JOld.man, do you live in dis country ?” “ I say, ‘ Yes, sab.’ " Hejiay'S, ‘lt’s,a mighty poor country. How do you make a livin’ ?’ “ Isays, ‘ Salt! tis putty good country. We has[ plenty bleat and bread, and I makes a good livin’ a ’

“ He says, / Old man, do you ever plav kerds ?” “ I say* ‘ Yes Sah, I does, sometimes.’ “ He says, ‘ Would you have any objection to playing a littlejdi-aw ?’ “ I says, ‘NoSah.’ “So we gels off our horses along side de road, and sat down, and I pulls out de herds. Well r in a short time I beat de gentleman out of 6250d015, and I thought I had him ;soI put a hand on him for lis do I say it myself, a mighty smart han d a herds—and I hnow’d he would have three jacks and 1 would have three aces, and in the draw I know'd he get de oder Jack, and I would get de oder aee. So be riiscs a bit, and I raises on back, till at last I put all the money I had won from the geramen and all de 'change I had, and I kuow’d 1 had him. Well, in de draw de gent got de oder jack arid 1 got de oder a,ce. De ('gent wanted to bet, but I claimed a sight for de money, and told him 1 had an inwinoible hand and couldn’t he heat. “He says, ‘ Ole man, dcra is right good britches you is got on ; how much did dey cost?’ “ 1 say, ‘Yes sah ; dey cost me lOdols.’ “ He says, ‘I puts up lOdols. agiu dcm.’ “1 says, 1 Berry well, sah ; hut I tells you I got a invincible hand.’ “ He puts up the money, and I holds up my. legs arid hcjpull off the britches aud lays them down. , “ ‘ Now, sah,’ t says, ‘ I told you I had au invincible hand ; I’s got fo’ aces ?’ I He gent says, ‘ Ole man, did you ever hear of fivo jacks heatin’ fo’ aces.’ “Isays, ‘ I’se heard it, sah, hut I’se never seed it, ahd if you convince me ob it de money’s yourn. ’ “ ‘Barry well, he says,' laying down one kerd ; 1 Ain’t if at the jack ob clubs ?’ “‘Yes, sah/1 says, ‘dat am de jack ob clubs.’ “He lays down auoder kerd; ‘Ain’t dat de jack ob spades?’ ‘ \ ea, sah, dat is de jack ob spades.’ “He lays down anoder ; ‘Ain’t dat de jack ob diamonds ?’

** l cs , sah, dat is dejack ob diamonds.’ “ Ho lays down anoder, and says, ‘ Ain’t dai dc jack ob hearts ?’

L says, ‘ \ es, sah, dat am de jack ob hearts.’

“ Den he runs his hands in his bosom and pulls outa great long pistol, and points it at me and says, ‘ Ain’t dat jack haul ?’ “ I Say, ‘ Yes, sah.’ “And he says, ‘ Ain’t dat five jacks ? and don’t dat win de money ?’ “I says, ‘ Yes, sah, dat is jack haul, and dat is five jacks, and five jacks heats an inwincible hand.’

“So he puts de money in his pocket, and ties my britches ’hind ob his saddle, and tells Uie to scatter—and I did.

“ You see, it served me right, for I tought dc man was a green Missourian when I put up de baud on him ; but ho was a Arkansawcbap, aud I finds them mighty sharp, Judge.”

The above is vouched for by tiio foremen and several members of the Grand Jury as a fact—every wor ‘ of it.