Note 40 — CHAP. VI.
Reading edition
The following is the substance of the most striking parts of the Evidence of John Shepherd, in the action alluded to.
"The witness saw Hazard played at the Gaming-House of the defendant, in Leicester-street.—Every person who was three times successful, paid the defendant a Silver Medal, which he purchased from him on entering the house, at eight for a guinea, and he received six or seven of these in the course of an hour for the Box Hands, as it was called. The people who frequented this house always played for a considerable sum. Sometimes £.20 or £.30 depended on a single throw of the Dice. The witness remembered being once at the defendant's Gaming-House about three or four o'clock in the morning, when a gentleman came in very much in liquor.—He seemed to have a great deal of money about him.—The defendant said he had not intended to play, but now he would set to with this fellow.—He then scraped a little wax with his finger off one of the candles and put the Dice together, so that they came seven every way. After doing this, he dropped them into the box and threw them out, and afterwards drew all the money away, saying he had won it.—Seven was the main, and he could not throw any thing but seven. The young gentleman said he had not given him time to bar.—A dispute arose between the defendant and him. It was referred to two or three persons who were round the table, and they gave it in favour of the defendant. The gentleman said he had lost upwards of £.70. The defendant said, we have cleared him. The witness has seen a man pawn his watch and ring in several instances; and once he saw a man pawn his coat and go away without it.
"After the Gaming Table was broken by the Bow-street Officers, the defendant said it was too good a thing to be given up, and instantly got another Table, large enough for twenty or thirty people. The frequenters of this house used to play till day-light: and on one or two occasions, they played all the next day. This is what the defendant called, sticking to it rarely. The guests were furnished with wine and suppers gratis, from the funds of the partnership, in abundance. Sunday was a grand day. The witness has seen more than forty people there at a time. The table not being sufficient for the whole, half-a-crown used on such occasions to be given for a seat, and those behind looked over the back of the others and betted."
The person above-mentioned (whose name was Smith) who pawned his coat, corroborated the above evidence; and added, that he had seen a person after he had lost all his money, throw off his coat and go away, losing it also.