The Sun.
London, England, 1826-03-04 00:00:00

PRENCH ELEPHANT and the INNKEEPER.

On the 23d ult. the Tribunal of First Instance
was occupied with a cause arising- out of an ele-
phant. It was an action of damages, brought by
an innkeeper against the owner of the elephant.
The plaintiff's Counsel made the following state-
ment :—Towards the end of last October, M
Garmel, accompanied by his elephant, a re-
markably large and fine animal, arrived at
Portier's Inn, at Bourg-la-Reine. The stable
not having been constructed for the reception of
such enormous quadrupedi, it became necessary
to take up the pavement under the door-way
to let the elephant enter., Here he remained
quietly installed for some days, until the evening
before the fair of Saint Martin. His keeper
had served him up a very plentiful repast,
consisting of five bundles of hay, two of
straw, and ftirty pounds of bread, which, the
animal seemed to eat with a wed appetite. How-
ever, soon after, probably from having indulged
too freely in the pleasures of the table, he-showed
symptoms of ill humour. The keeper scolded
him, but this only increased his irritation and
restlessness, and on receiving a few applications'
of the goad, he lost his temp'er completely, and
endeavoured to destroy his keeper. The man tied'
in affright, leaving the stable door open. The
elephant then broke his chain, tore the door from
its hinges, and sallied out into the yard with the
most terrific cries. The first object he met with
was a carriage, which he broke to pieces ;,he then
tore up an iron balustrading, and threw a one-
horse-chaise into the air, which, on falling, was
dashed to pieces. He then proceeded to the
well, which was in the middle of the yard,
took the rope in his trunk and drew up the
buckets, which he crushed to fragments
against the parapet of the well. He then
broke the rope in several pieces ,and scat,'
tered them about the yard. The cries of the
keeper,and the übise made by the elephant in his
work of destruction, soon threw all the inmates
of the inn into consternation. The gendarmes
were sent for, and two of them with loaded car-
bines passsed the night in watching at a respect-
ful distance the irritated elephant, whose fur
(lid not subside till six o'clock in the morning.
Here the counsel read the accounts of the car-
penters, coach-makers, smiths, &c., who had been
employed to repair the ravages caused by the ele-
pliant, the whole amounting to 463 francs 63 cents.
Besides this sum he said his client had a claim for
month's board and lodging of the animal„ which
could not, at the most moderate.,calculation, be
set down at less than 250 francs. The defendant
having paid only 200 francs on account, he claim-
ed a further sum of 413 francs 63 cents., the
balance of 713 francs 68 cents. In conclusion he
prayed the court that as a measure of security,
his client might be permitted to arrest the ele-
lphant, wherever he should find him. M. Le.:
gendre, advocate, then rose for the elephant, and
said, Gentlemen, as the parties are at formal
issue as to the 'filets, it will be difficult for
you to properly appreciate their respective al-
legations, unless you order all parties concern-
ed to appear in person before you. My client
does not deny that the elephant made a sortie,
and that some damage ensued, but he insists that
he has fully compensated the plaintiff for that
damage by the payment of 200 francs, which I
produce. As to the accounts furnished by the car•
penters, smiths, &c., they have been designedly
got up for the occasion; and as to the frightful
picture of the ravages caused by the elephant
drawn by the opposite counsel, the Court can-
not pit their faith In it ; for if such had been the
case, the innkeeper would not fail to have
had a proces vtirbal of the facts drawn up.
The iniaginary paroxim of fury attribeted to the
eliphant is a libel on his character; for we'know
what Button has said, 14 that these animals are
naturally mild, grave, and full of moderalion."
After a short reply from the plaintiff's Counsel,
the Court ordered that an inquiry into the real
amount of the damages should be made by the
Juge de Paix of Bourg-la-Reine, and that the
parties in person should come before the Court
in eight days.