Recently while perusing Greene County Georgia Superior Court records, I discovered two cases involving James Meriweather Lankford, my 3rd great grandfather, and two of his brothers, William A. Lankford and Curtis Caldwell Lankford. All three were brought before the grand jury on gambling charges. The first case involved William and James for playing Poker; the second involved Curtis, for running a gaming house and allowing people to play Seven Up. I’ve been unable to find the sentence and/or fine for the poker case.
Just another glimpse into the lives of my ancestors.
The State vs. William A. Lankford, James M. Lankford, Robert M. Foster and Marshall B. Grady
Greene Superior Court, September Term 1856Playing and Betting
State of Georgia, Greene County
The Grand Jurors sworn chosen and selected for the county of Greene to wit the undersigned by presentment in the name and behalf of the citizens of Georgia charge and accuse William A. Lankford, James M. Lankford, Robert M. Foster and Marshall B. Grady, of the county and state of aforesaid with the offence of playing and betting for that the said William A. Lankford, James M. Lankford, Robert M. Foster and Marshall B. Grady on the third day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty six in the county aforesaid with force and arms aid then and there play and bet for money at a game of cards called poker contrary to the laws of said state the good order, peace and dignity thereof.
September Term 1856John C. Holtzclaw, Foreman
Thomas Miller, William A. Corry, William S. Creddill, Littleberry Jackson, Elisha Hall, Thomas Crawford, Joseph R. Parker, William Tuggle Jr., William B. Johnson, John F. Zimmerman, Robert J. Mapey, Elliot C. Bowden, John W. Kimbrough, Miles G. Broom, William A. Overton, William Terrill, Samuel D. Durham, William T. Watts, Harrison H. Watts.
September Term 1856 No ArrestMarch Term 1857 Plea of guilty by all defendants
The defendants plead guilty.
W. A. Lofton, Solicitor General
 |
Keeping a Gaming House
Witness: Joseph Davison
The Grand Jurors sworn, chosen and selected for the county of Greene to wit: John G. Holtzclaw, Foreman, Thomas Miller, William A. Corry, William S. Creddille, Littleberry Jackson, Elisha Hall, Thomas Crawford, Joseph R. Parker, William Tuggle Jr., William B. Johnson, John F. Zimmerman, Robert J. Mapey, Elliot C. Bowden, John W. Kimbrough, Miles G. Broom, William A. Overton, William Terrell, Samuel D. Durham, William T. Watts, Harrison H. Watts.
In the name and behalf of the citizens of Georgia charge and accuse Curtis C. Lankford of the county and state aforesaid with the offence of keeping a gaming house. For that the said Curtis C Lankford by himself on the twenty fifth day of March in the year eighteen hundred and fifty six in the county aforesaid did then and there unlawfully and with force and arms have and maintain a gaming house on the day and year aforesaid and on divers other days and times then knowingly did permit persons to come together and play together at a certain game of cards called Seven Up and in the said gaming house on the day and year aforesaid in the county and on divers other days and times there knowingly, willfully, and unlawfully did permit said persons to be and remain playing and betting at said unlawful game of Seven Up for divers sums of money to the evil example of all others in like cases offending contrary to the laws of said state, the good order, peace and dignity thereof.
Greene Superior Court, September Term 1856.James Davison, Prosecutor
William A. Lofton, Sol. General
Bench Warrant, Georgia, Greene County
To all and singular the Sheriffs, Coroners, and Constables of said state, Greeting: Whereas at the September Term 1856 the Grand Jury did find a true Bill of Indictment against - Curtis C. Lankford for keeping a gaming house. These are therefore to command you take the body of said Curtis C. Lankford before me or some justice of the peace that he may be dealt with as the law directs.
Given under my hand and seal this 13th September 1856.William A. Lofton, Sol. Gen.
Robert V. Hardeman, Judge, Supr. Court
True Bill
John G. Holtzclaw, Foreman
The defendant waives a formal arraignment and pleads guilty.
March Term 1858.
William A. Lofton, Sol. General
March Term, 1858
Whereupon it is ordered considered and adjudged by the court that defendant pay a fine of fifty dollars and all costs and be imprisoned in the common jail of the county for sixty days – and upon payment of said fine of fifty dollars and all costs that he be thence discharged. March Term 1858, William A. Lofton, Sol. General.
Recorded the 29th of June 1858. D. B. Sanford for Vincent Sanford, Clerk of S.C.
The Georgia Temperance Crusader reported on Curtis’ case on March 18, 1858:
Court Week in Greenesboro’. Last week the Superior Court of this county, held its regular session. The amount of business dispatched was large; yet, at the adjournment on Saturday evening, they had not gotten through with more than half. … Quite a number of the gaming gentry were brought to an account for their misdeeds, and some of them dealt with pretty heavily. B. F. Ray, against whom several true bills were found, one for gambling with negroes, was sentenced to 3 months imprisonment, and fined $350. Curtius Lankford was sentenced to 2 months imprisonment, and fined $50. A squad of gamesters from a neighboring county were invited to contribute to the county treasury, in a manner which rendered a compliance most prudent. We think, however, that our laws against gambling can never become sufficiently terrible to offenders, until the rates of fining be raised. …
References
- Court Week in Greenesboro’, The Georgia Temperance Crusader, Penfield, Georgia, March 18, 1858.
- Greene County, Georgia, Superior Court, Special Proceedings Records, September Term 1857 and 1858, familysearch.org.
- Poker, Cool Old Games; https://www.coololdgames.com/card-games/poker/.
- Seven Up, Cool Old Games; https://www.coololdgames.com/card-games/trick-taking/all-fours/seven-up/.
No comments:
Post a Comment