Indians Playing Cards

Indians Playing Cards

It had been a good night of cards for Chayton,
He had played poker, was sure he’d be famous
His opponents were men he called Navajos
Everyone grew tired, the game became slow

All was well until the Police appeared
“What’s going on Chayton?” The table was cleared
“These others aren’t Indians, are they?
You know that with them, cards you can’t play?”

“And why not, is there a law against that?”
“Yes there is.” Saying that the officer spat
“In California we don’t allow such games.
The law is old, back when miners had claims.”

“You gotta be kidding me, what does the law say?”
“I have it memorized, learned it today.”
“No Playing Cards With Indians in this state.
It’s been on the books since an early date.”

“Does the law specify that Whites can’t play them?”
“Well I believe it does, it’s quite the gem.”
“Then it doesn’t apply, I’m one of them too.
At least part of me is, my father was Sioux.

With that cleared up, he’d escaped on a law flaw
One more hand was played, it ended in a draw
That law? Of course it couldn’t be enforced
Perhaps that was why it had never been endorsed

Chayton knew being half Sioux would save him that night
Being arrested would have put him in a plight
How would it look if the Sioux Chief was in jail?
And had to use his winnings just to make bail?

Jim Dorrell
2/12/25

28 lines

https://onlyearthlings.com/the-20-weirdest-laws-still-on-the-books-in-america/

#12 in the list.