On the Coat Tales of a Gambler
One time, at a cockfight, a guy was not going to pay Scarpone on a bet. The deadbeat was going on about how there was not a real contract before the fight and there was nothing Scarpone could do about it. This was one time when I thought I was going to witness Scarpone kill a guy. He got so mad…. steaming mad! But he did not do anything there at the barn with all the people and he did not cause a seen. He kept his cool and remained calm. He suckered the guy to go around to the back where the cars were parked. Telling the guy, he had a case of good whiskey to sell to him, since there was no bet. Scarpone got the guy to follow him out into the dark where the cars were parked. I tagged along because Scarpone asked me to help move the booze for the man.
After we were out and away from the activities, Scarpone bends over like to open his trunk. Instead of reaching down to unlock the hatch, he takes out his pistol from inside his coat. In an instant, Scarpone grabs the guy’s balls and shoves him hard up against the car and at the same time, jams the barrel of the pistol up the guy’s nose. He was pushing so hard, I heard the nose breaking and when Scarpone cocked the pistol, I braced, anticipating the muzzle blast and blood. But then, Scarpone asked in a calm voice, almost politely, if the guy was absolutely sure they didn’t have a bet on the cockfight. With blood running down the barrel of the “38” and urine down the legs of the deadbeat, came a whimper of, “Yes mister, we had a bet. Take your money. Please don’t kill me!”
I was never so scared. I was never so grateful that Scarpone did not shoot that guy. He whacked him on the head with the pistol butt and the guy crumpled to the ground crying. I guess it was around the time of this incident that I started to wake up to the idea that I might be running with the wrong crowd. I certainly got it that night. Scarpone was one ruthless, and dangerous son-of-a-bitch when he was in a fit of rage.
In the next email from Sailor, he continues with a story he promised he would share at a later time.
Michael, a lot of what I have shared with you were escapades Scarpone told to me, long before I ever herd of the guy. I don’t think I told you about the time he admitted to me how he killed two guys in a poker game.
At the time, we had stopped for lunch at a dinner. Scarpone was quiet as we waited for our food. He lit up a smoke, then leaning over the table, closer to me, he said, “You know Sailor, I killed two guys once.” Talk about ruining an appetite. I didn’t know Scarpone all that well and to hear him confess to a killing, it turned my stomach, and sickened me with fear.
I don’t remember where this took place, it was not in Robstown, maybe Greer, but you can’t blame me for being in shock at the time. Scarpone was in an illegal game at a roadhouse, some place out in the country. There were other people there and other games going on. The way Scarpone told the story, there were two guys in the game, working as a team. He did not know the men; he had not played with them before. He said that he did not like their looks, though at the time, he did not know they were working together.
The way the game was going was typical of a poker game; players winning and losing as the cards went around the table, without much talking. After Scarpone won a sizable pot, one of the guys made a remark insinuating his displeasure with the outcome, as if speaking to all the players, soliciting moral support. The next part happened fast, according to Scarpone. The other partner chimed in with support of suspicion, speaking directly to Scarpone. Scarpone calmly stated that perhaps it wasn’t their night, and they could leave if they wanted. The first man who spoke up, agreed but first he wanted Scarpone to turn out his pockets. Scarpone already had his hand in the pocket with his “38” and calmly said no. Then, the first man made a move for a pistol in his belt and Scarpone shot him from the pocket of his jacket. The impact of the 38, knocked the man from his chair. Meanwhile, the second man jumped up with a gun in his hand and shot Scarpone as Scarpone turned to shoot him dead. Scarpone said it took all his money paying an attorney to get him off with self-defense.
“Supposedly, his cheating eventually did catch up with Scarpone. Although I do not know about his demise, I would not be surprised if that isn’t how he met his end.”
One the Coat Tales of a Gambler continues with Episode 15 –
Ladrón Family History.