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2 Morr. St. Cas. 1078

Blewett v. State

Mississippi Supreme Court

Decided July 1, 1872

Mississippi Supreme Court · decided 1872-07-01

Harris, J. In this case there was no bet or wager on the result of any game of chance. It was a game of billiards, played in -a regularly licensed billiard saloon, and according to the rules of such saloon the loser of the game was required to pay a fee to the owner for use of the table; and this cannot amount to gaming.

Cited by 2 later decisions — most recently March 1905

2 state decisions

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1872-07-01

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Eisheb, J.

¶1This was an indictment in the circuit court of Lowndes, county, charging the defendant with playing for money, or other valuable thing, at a game of billiards.

¶2The proof is, that the playing was at a regularly licensed table for that purpose, and'the defendant being the loser of the game, it was presumed that he paid the regular fee chargeable by the owner of the table. Supposing both facts to be true, still no offense was established against the law.

¶3To constitute gaming, one or other of the parties must expect to profit by the game. Here neither could derive such profit, because neither was entitled to the fee paid to the owner of the table. *1080Admitting that it is the rule of tbe game, that the loser shall pay the fee, the owner has a perfect right to make his contract in this way, the law not prohibiting this mode of contracting.

¶4Judgment reversed, and venire de novo awarded.

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