The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1869-04-10 00:00:00

EXTRAORDINARY SCENE WITH A
PERFORMING BEAR.

On Saturday the Brentford magistrates were en-
gaged for some time in investigating a charge against
two Frenchmen, Le Trim Salim and Joseph Jerant,
of creating an obstruction with a performing bear and
dog, and also of assaulting and wilfully endangering
the life of a police officer in the execution of his duty.
Whilst the prisoners were under examination the
bear was secured to the stout railings in front of the
Town-hall, and carefully watched by four policemen.
In the course of a few minutes, however, Master Bruin,
after giving one or two tugs at his chain, showed signs
of making a fight forliberty, and Jerant was sent down
by the mag:strates to quiet him.
It appeared from the evidence that the prisoners
were founel performing with the bear in the streets at
Hounslow. A constable interfered, telling them the
law did not allow them to obstruct the streets in the
way they were d ilag. They pretended not to under-
stand English, but moved on at a sign from the con
stable. Shortly afterwards they were again found per-
forming, and instead of moving on this time they
assumed a threatening aspect towards the officer.
Jerant threw down the drum which he hail been play-
ing, and drew a large jack-knife which he flourished
over the constable's head. The latter, however, pro-
cured assistance, and the prisoners were taken to the
station, where a singular scene occurred. When they
found that they were to be detained Jerant seized the
heavy pole with which the bear performs and knocked
one of the constables down. He next gave a
sign to the bear, and the animal, rising on its hind
legs, struck a second constable to the ground. The
officers then resorted to their truncheons, as the pri-
soner Salim WM attempting to unmuzzle the bear.
When Jerant found himself effectually subdued he
I gave a sign which caused the bear to make its way up
the staircase, and as it commenced a determined effort
to make its way into the rooms the female occupants
' were so terrified that they threw open the front win-
dows and screamed for assistance. The policemen
seized the pole used in the bear performance and made
an attack upon him with little or no effect, but even-
tually succeeded in compelling one of the prisoners to
, control the brute, and it was ultimately locked up in
the patrol's loose-box. During the night it tore down
nearly all the fittings in the loose-box, and broke the
scabbard and sword of one of the patrols. It, how-
ever, quietly followed the prisoners to the Town-hall
at Brentford.
The Chairman of the Bench, addressing the pri-
soners, said they had promised the police-magistrates
in London that they would leave the country, but
they had not only not done so, but they were now
found committing the very offence with respect to
which they had been cautioned. They exhibited their
bear to the danger of horses and alarm ef women, and
when they were told to desist acted with violence.
They niust now be taught that such things were not
tolerated in this country, for they would go to the
House of Correction for one month's hard labour.
A difficulty arose as to what should be done with the
,1 bear during the incarceration of its owners, and on the
suggestion of Superintendent Fisher it was resolved to
I make application for its reception into the Zoological
Gardens. Sanction having, in the course of the after-
noon, been obtai.ied from the authorities of the gardens,
the next difficulty was how to convey the bear thither,
for it would follow no one but the prisoners. Ulti-
mately it was decided to pack them off in an omnibus,
and after a great deal of trouble the trio were on their
Journey, followed for some distance by a crowd of
urchins. Before they arrived at Kew Bridge, however,
the bear smashed the window, and made its way out of
the omnibus, to the terror of the spectators. The
animal seemed to be more frolicsome than anything
else, and was soon captured, and led on foot to the
gardens.