A CARTER STORY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7025, 13 January 1910, Page 3

A CARTER STORY

THE MAGICIAN AT POKER. A good story h told against Charles J. Carter, the magician, who is to appear next week at the Opera House. While in Wellington two years ago, a number of his friend-; unwittingly played a joke on him which ccist considerable coin of the realm. A young man had been boasting -of his powers us a poker player, and had wen a large amount of money from young follows who imagined they knew something of the game. In a spirit of retaliation they prevailed upon Carter to sit in the game one evening, and, as they expressed it, “to take the. young fellow down a peg or two. 0 Carter replied that he did not care to do eo, because ho would not take advantage of a stranger, and those who knew him would not play with him. The young men insisted, however, and it was agreed that any money Carter should win from tho young fellow should be returned to him, whereupon he was ushered into the game, and in the course of time, as per agreement, all of the other players dropped out, leaving tho bcastful one and Carter as opponents. As Carter afterwards said; “In my peculiar way of handling cards, I soon had the young man's pile reduced to innocuous desuetude, although I had allowed Mm to win four or five times before beginning work. I forgot to explain that wo did not play with chips, but wiith money, and I remarked that each time the - felllow won a r potf he would tako all the money from tho table, and then chip in from his pocket as the 'pot* or exigency required. At length, after having won from the young

man several pounds, and after his explanation that he was 'cleaned/ we all had a good laugh around. One of the young men asked him if ho knew with whom ho was playing, and he replied, 'Certainly, that's Carter, the magician, and ho is a very good player, too/ " This was somewhat of a surprise, and,; as arranged. Carter tendered him the money won, and in a very superior and patronising manner, advised his opponent to let cards alone, and not play, poker again, especially for money, . Tire young man thanked the skilful 1 poker player for the advice, but refused, to accept the money. He was assured; that there, had been a general conspiracy to trick him, but replied that it was 1 his business, and if anyone had cheated him while he had his eyes open, he would not be the one to kick, and thathe was not aware he had been playing, with a gang of thieves. 1 "This was not so fanny/' remarked* Carter, who tells the story against himself. "I at once proffered his money, and ho very indignantly arose from the table, bade us good night, haughtily striding out of the room. "It was now left to ns to formulate a plan to rid ourselves of the young man's coin, and we proceeded to do this by ordering some refreshments. I paid for this with erne of the pound notes just won at the table. Our hilarity suddenly ceased a few moments later upon tho .return of the waiter, who declared that the note I had given him was a counterfeit. Instinctively we immediately examined the remainder of-the money, and found every shilling, or I should say, note, bogus!" "There was nothing to be done. Tho young man had taken his departure, .and I was left with tliirty. or forty pounds of spurious money in exchange for the good note® and sovereigns which the young man had pocketed while playing, exchanging my good money for his counterfeit money each time he reached jn his pocket to 'chip' for the ‘pot/ Since then I have .never played poker, and though I am able to handle the cards fairly well and dexterously, I have found that there are # many deceptions awaiting ©von a magician."