A FRIENDLY GAME AT CARDS

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10972, 28 January 1899, Page 2 (Supplement)

A FRIENDLY GAME AT CARDS

Is' Dublin, a few days ago, before Mr. Justice Boyd and a common jury, George Edward Foot, of the Morant Arms, ltraekenhurst, Hampshire, sued Lieut.-Colonel C. J. Tnfneil Oates, of Moore's Hotel, Kilkee, hotel proprietor, to recover £200 15s Id, amount of a bill payable three months after dale, and endorsed to plaintiff. The defence was that the bill was drawn in payment of money lost by the defendant by gaming at cards, and was, in consequence, void in law. The making of the bill was admitted, and the plaintiff claimed to have discounted it.

Mr. Sullivan opened the case for the defendant, who, he said, employed his leisure in managing Moore's Hotel, at Kilkee. In the course of his experience he met a Mr. John Commyns, who had been a sort of common agent or betting man whom Colonel Oates had frequently befriended. On Jan. 11,1898, Commyns arrived at Moore's Hotel, accompanied by an individual who was then going under the name of Lorenzo Moore, and who was introduced by Cummyns as an African millionaire. A week after their arrival the two visitors and defendant drove to Kilrush, and on returning Moore and Commyns expressed their wish to enjoy a game at cards. The Colonel said he had made it a rule not to play for money in .his own house, but ultimately he gave way, and they sat down to a little game, tho Colonel rising a loser to the extent of £80. Next morning Moore entered the Colonel's bedroom, said he must leave, and asked for the £80. The Colonel had only £75 cash in his possession, and ho paid them that sum. Moore, however, did not leave for a few mornings. Afterwards these two knaves entered the defendant's bedroom when he was lying ill and induced him to resume playing. Before they had been two hours at it the Colonel was declared to be a loser to the amount of £200. One of tho pair left tho bedroom for a moment and returned with a bill stamp in his hand drawn upon Colonel Oates by Moore as follows:— "£2CO. Kilkee, County Clare, Jan. 23, 1898. Thiee months after date pay to my order the sum of £200 for value received. Accepted payable on the Provincial Bank of Ireland, kilrush— J. Oates." Next morning Commyns decamped, leaving Moore behind him. Ten or twelve days afterwards Moore left without paying his bill, which, for the pair, amounted to £34. The Colonel had at one time an intention of paying this £200 as a debt of honour, but when he discovered, as he thought, that this was an attempt to rob him, he stood upon his legal right. - Evidence was given as to Moore and Commyns, one witness alleging that the London polico had been looking for them for some time unsuccessfully.

The jury found for the defendant.