Bell v. State

1. Gaming Table—“Craps.”—Where, on atrial for exhibiting a gaming table, the evidence showed that the game played was “ craps,” that it was played upon a table of a certain form and with printed numbers on it to be used in the game, which table was exhibited to attract bettors; that it had an exhibitor who presided at and kept his money upon it; that all the parties to the game threw the dice, except the exhibitor; that all bet against him; that he paid the winnings of the bettors, and took all the losses: Held, that such table was a gaming table, within the purview of articles 35S and 3M9 of the Penal Code. 2. Same — Test as to what is a Gaming Table. — The test as to whether a game played on a table was exhibiting a gaming table or bank is, “was it a game of the one against the many?’’ Following Stearns v. The State, 21 Texas, 698. 3. Same—Case Distinguished.—See distinction drawn between the facts-in this case and the facts in Ohappel v. The State, 27 Texas Criminal Appeals, 310.

Appellant was indicted for unlawfully keeping and exhibiting for the purpose of gaming a gaming table and bank, and at his trial, the cause having been submitted to the court without a jury, he was convicted, and his punishment assessed at a fine of $25 and ten days imprisonment in the county jail. The facts proved on the trial were: That the defendant, John Bell, in Donley County, Texas, on the 1st day of August, 1892, did sit by the side of a certain table, and have on that table a sum of money, to-wit, about $15; also two dice cubes, with six sides each, and having dots on those six sides as follows, one, two, three, four, five, and six dots on one side respectively of each dice, the same being ordinary playing dice. The table was an ordinary table, but-had around its edges strips which prevented the dice rolling off when thrown on the table; also had a cloth on it, and on that cloth were numbers in a row as follows, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. While the defendant was at the table a man on the outside approached,, going to the table, picked up the dice, laid some money down on the said table, when the defendant threw out a blind or block on about the number 7. The man threw the dice on the table. The game was played as-' follows: If the man threw seven or eleven he won, and the defendant-paid him the amount of the bet. If he made two or three he lost, and defendant would take his money. If he made any other number than seven or eleven it was called his “ point,” and he continued to throw until he threw his “ point” again or seven. If he made his point first, he won;, if he made seven first, he lost. This man played for sometime. When the defendant won bets, he put what he won on the table with money he had there. If he lost, he paid the bets with money taken from the money on the table. The man throwing the dice would have his money in his hands and laying on the table; could put it down on the table. The defendant had a “ chip” or block which he used to mark V points ” the thrower would make. If the man on the outside would throw a “ point” on the first throw, the defendant would put his “chip” blind on the corresponding number on the table. This was to prevent the defendant and players from forgetting the “ point,” thereby causing misunderstandings. The game is called “ craps.” When one is playing at it they sometimes call it playing, but it is generally called “shooting craps.” The defendant sat by that table, and would take all bets with any one who came up and wanted to bet, paying lost bets from said money on said table, and putting bets won with said money. The man on the outside did all the throwing of the dice. The game is properly “ craps.” It is known as “ old nigger craps,” and has been in existence in the South for nearly fifty years. It is played by one party putting down where they are to throw the dice the amount of money he wishes to bet, when any one who wishes can bet against him by putting down a like amount, which in the game parlance is “ fading the bet.” The party “fading,” when he puts down the amount bet by the thrower and says he “fades” the thrower, he bets against 7 and 11 on the first throw, and against the thrower’s “point” after that until one of them won or lost. In the game played aforesaid, defendant always, or nearly always, did the “ fading.” He could throw the dice and let some one else fade him, if he chose so to do, and any one would “ fade” him. Two or more can play the game. They can let one throw all the time, or take it about in turn, after each bet is won or lost, or any way they please. Any two can make any bet they please as to the result of the throw made. Defendant would take all bets offered him. Others would bet with each other. The table was not an essential or necessary part of the game, but only a convenience to prevent misunderstandings from arising between the players. The dice in playing the game can be thrown on the floor, on a counter, or on the ground, or any place where a level surface upon which to lodge the dice can be found. It can be played by parties walking along the road, throwing the dice in a hat. No particular dice are necessary. Two cubes of any convenient size and kind of substance, having the numbers either in figures or dots," will serve to play with. Can whittle out two cubes here in the court room, number the sides with a pencil, either by dots or figures, and play the game by throwing them on the floor or table. Any substance, as coal, wood, bone, clay, ivory, etc., can be used to make the dice. Can start here, with a small piece of wood and a knife, and in a few minutes be prepared to play the game before the court. The game referred to on the 1st of August, 1892, was played with dice which defendant had in the table. Defendant never forbade any one to bet, and took all bets that were offered him. By the man on the outside is meant the man who came up to said table where defendant was sitting, and threw the dice and bet. The defendant never threw the dice, but always, or nearly always, did the “fading,” that is, accept the bets offered. By the defendant’s “ blind” or block is meant the block he would put on seven at first throw and the thrower’s “ point” after, until one of them won or lost, and was by defendant kept on the number he was betting against, and is used in the game to represent his “fading” of the thrower’s bet, and to keep the points correct. Several parties approached that table on said day and bet with defendant as described. At the Dallas Term the cause came on for hearing on appeal, and the judgment was reversed and cause remanded. A motion was made by the Assistant Attorney-General in behalf of the State for a rehearing, which motion was transferred to the Austin branch, where the case was finally disposed of as shown in the opinion of Simkins, Judge, below.