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
In the Times of February 11th, 1819, mention is made of a gang of nearly
thirty persons, male and female, and all presenting the most shocking
appearance of both want and depravity, who were brought to the
Marlborough Street Office. Among these wretched beings was a woman named
Hewitt, said to be the wife of one Captain Hewitt, a leader of the ton,
who, after ruining himself and family at the gambling table, ran away
from them, and was not since heard of. His wife being left to herself,
and having probably been tainted by his evil example, by an easy
gradation became first embarrassed, then a prostitute, then a thief, and
on the occasion above mentioned exhibited one of the most distressing
spectacles of vice and misery that could be conceived.
TRURTELL THE MURDERER.
This man, it is well known, was executed for the murder of Weare.
Thurtell was evidently no common man. His spoken defence, as reported,
is one of the finest specimens of impassioned eloquence--perfectly
Demosthenic. His indignation at the reports circulated in prejudice of
his case was overwhelming. Nothing can be finer than the turn of the
following sentence:--'I have been represented by the Press--WHICH
CARRIES ITS BENEFITS OR CURSES ON RAPID WINGS from one extremity of
the kingdom to the other--as a man more depraved, more gratuitously
and habitually profligate and cruel, than has ever appeared in modern
times.'
Touching his gambling pursuits, he said:--'I have been represented to
you as a man who was given to gambling, and the constant companion
of gamblers. To this accusation in some part my heart, with feeling
penitence, pleads guilty. I have gambled; I have been a gambler, but not
for the last three years. During that time I have not attended or betted
upon a horse-race, or a fight, or any public exhibition of that nature.
If I have erred in these things, half of the nobility of the land have
been my examples; some of the most enlightened statesmen of the country
have been my companions in them. I have, indeed, been a gambler; I have
been an unfortunate one. But whose fortune have I ruined?--whom undone?
My own family have I ruined; I have undone myself!'(22)
(22) See the entire speech in 'Celebrated Trials,' vol. vi. 547.
A MOST WONDERFUL END OF A GAMBLER.
In the Annual Register for the year 1766 occurs the following
'circumstantial and authentic account of the memorable case of Richard
Parsons,' transmitted by the high sheriff of Gloucestershire to his
friend in London.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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