John Wesley Harden, Gambler

I said: “I reckon two pair of jacks are good,” so the eventful game ended. I was ahead about $300.

Continuing John Wesley Hardin, Gunfighter,
our selection from The Life of John Wesley Hardin – Autobiography (published posthumously) in 1925. The selection is presented in six easy 5 minute installments. For works benefiting from the latest research see the “More information” section at the bottom of these pages.

Previously in John Wesley Hardin, Gunfighter.

Time: 1870-1871
Place: Texas

Ben was considered one of the most dangerous men in the country, but in those days I made no distinction in men as fighters. I told him I stood in men’s shoes and not to spoil a good intention on account of my youth. He yelled at me: “You damned little impudent scoundrel, I’ll beat hell out of you.” As he made for me I covered him with my pistol and told him I was a little on the scrap myself, the only difference between him and I being that I used lead. About this time a dozen men had gathered around. Some of them tried to catch me and others started to draw their pistols. I said: “The first man that makes a move or draws a gun I’ll kill him.” At the same time I drew my other pistol and made them all get in front of me, saying that I wanted no back action in this fight. You bet they got in front of me in short order. Ben then said: “Young man, I was wrong, I beg your pardon. You are a giant with a youth’s face. Even if you are a boy, I bow to you, and here is my hand in good faith.” I answered: “I cannot take your hand, but I accept your apology in good faith.” Ben said: “I will be your friend; don’t be uneasy while you are here; Bill Longley will be at the races tomorrow, so stop over and we will have a good time.”

Late that evening a dark looking man came to me and said: “My name is Bill Longley and I believe you are a spy for McAnally. If you don’t watch out you will be shot all to pieces before you know it.”

I said: “You believe a damned lie and all I ask is that those who are going to do the shooting will get in front of me. All I ask is a fair fight, and if your name is Bill Longley I want you to understand that you can’t bulldoze or scare me.”

Bill replied: “I see I have made a mistake. Are you here to see the races?”

I told him “not particularly.” He invited me to stay over and see the horses. We went and struck a poker game going on in a crib. We both got into the game. Directly it came my turn to deal. I had three jacks to go on and raised $5. All stayed in and in the draw Bill drew three cards, while the other two players drew one apiece. I drew two and caught the other jack. Bill filled on aces. One of the other players made a flush and the other filled on queens. The flush man bet $5, the man with a full went $10 better. I studied a while and said: “You can’t run me out on my own deal, so I go $10 better.” Bill Longley said: ‘Well, stranger, you have your foot in it now; I go you $50 better.” The man with a flush passed; the man with a queen full says: “Bill, I call a sight.”

Bill says: “All right; how much money have you got?”

He counted out $45.

“Well, stranger,” said Bill, “it’s up to you. What do you do?”

I said: “What are you betting; wind or money?”

He said: “Money.”

“Put it up,” said I.

He went down in his pocket and pulled out four $20 gold pieces and took out a $5 gold piece.

I said, “All right,” here is your $50 and I go you $250 better.

He said: “I go you; I call you.”

I told him to put up the money. He asked me if his word was not good and I told him no. He went into his pocket again and pulled out eleven $20 gold pieces and asked me if I would credit him for the balance. I told him no,

“Well,” he said, “I call you for $220.”

I told him all right. “I reckon you have me beat.”

He said: “I reckon so. I have got an ace full.”

I said: “Hold on, I have two pair.”

He said: “They are not worth a damn.”

I said: “I reckon two pair of jacks are good,” so the eventful game ended. I was ahead about $300.

Some way or another they all got on to my identity and they all treated me with a good deal of respect at the races the next day.

I went west and stopped at Round Rock in Williamson county to see my old school master, J. C. Landrum. I had been his pupil in the ’60s at Sumpter. After this I concluded to go north from there as I had relatives in Navarro and Limestone counties. I naturally wanted to see them, even if I had to take risks in doing so. I still cherished the hope that the day would come when I could stand my trial and come clear. My father always told me that when the Democrats regained power I could get a fair trial, but I could never expect that under carpet-bag rule. Of course I had long ago concluded not to surrender for the present and whenever force was unlawfully employed to make me do so I met it with force, or else got out of the way.

In August, 1870, I went to Navarro and stayed at Pisga, where I gambled a while. From there I went to Mount Calm, where my father was teaching school. There I peddled in hides and traded, making some money.

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