The Gaming Table: Its Votaries and Victims. Volume 2 (of 2)Steinmetz, Andrew
History
The Gaming Table: Its Votaries and Victims. Volume 2 (of 2)
Steinmetz, Andrew
Gambling
Captain Davis was some time in the Life Guards, and a lieutenant in the
Yeomen of the Household--a situation which placed him often about the
persons of the Royal family. He was seldom known to play for less
stakes than L50, often won or lost large sums, and was represented as
a gentleman of extensive and independent fortune, although some of
his enemies declared otherwise, and repeated anecdotes to confirm
the assertion. He was at length committed for forgeries to an immense
amount. To the fidelity of a servant he owed his escape from Giltspur
Street prison--another fatal example of the sure result of gambling.
Heir to a title--moving in the first society--having held a commission
in the most distinguished of the Royal regiments--he was reduced to
the alternative of an ignominious flight with outlawry, or risking the
forfeiture of his wretched life, to the outraged laws of his country.
When in Paris, he at one time had won L30,000, and on his way home he
dropped into another gambling house, where he lost it all but L3000. He
set out in life with L20,000 in money!
DESPERATE CAREER OF HENRY WESTON.
Henry Weston was nephew to the distinguished Admiral Sir Hugh Palliser.
Having unlimited control of the large property of his employer, a Mr
Cowan, during the absence of the latter from town, he was tempted first
to gamble in the funds, wherein being unfortunate, he next went to a
gambling house in Pall Mall, and lost a very large sum; and at length,
gamed away nearly all his master's property.
In this tremendous result--lost to all intents and purposes--he made a
supreme effort to 'patch up' the ruin he had made. He forged the name
of General Tonyn; and so dexterously, that he obtained from the Bank of
England the sum of L10,000.
This huge robbery from Peter was not to pay Paul. Not a bit of it. It
was to try the fickle goddess of gaming once more--a Napoleonic stroke
for an Austerlitz of fortune.
He lost this L10,000 in two nights.
Did he despair at this hideous catastrophe? Did he tear his hair--rush
out of the room--blow his brains out or drown himself?
Not a bit of it. He 'set his wits to work' once more. He procured a
woman to personate General Tonyn's sister--forged again--and again
obtained from the Bank of England another large supply of ready
cash--with which, however, he 'went off' this time.
He was caught; and then only he thought of self-murder, and cut his
throat--but not effectually. He recovered, was tried at the Old Bailey,
and hanged on the 6th of July, 1796.
No doubt the reader imagines that the man of such a career was an OLD
stager--some long-visaged, parchment-faced fellow the OTHER side of
forty at least. Well, this hero of the gaming table, Henry Weston, was
aged only TWENTY-THREE years! What terrible times those must have been
to produce such a prodigy!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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