Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1858-06-18
THE GREAT MARYLAND BLACK CAT CASE

This tremendous case is now pending
before a judicial tribunal Of the State OF
Maryland, and presents many remarka-
/ BILE features of the ingenuity aud specu-
lative capacity Of the defendant IN the
case. For the benefit Of the legal pro
! fession and gentleman generally who may
wish to enter a new field of speculation,
| will give a short history ct the case as
| heard It:
! Some few years ago gentleman of
Maryland conceived the idea that nm
/ immense fortune could BE realised by The
rearing of black cats for the sake OF
their skins. The principal obstacle to
the plan was the impossibilitv Of keen
/ ING the animals together aud preventing
them from wandering Off as their acti-
witty, assisted by the penetrating qualities
OF their claws, would enabled them to
defy any enclosure and At lasi, after
much thinking, the idea suggested itself
TO his mind that water was the only bar
rier that the cats would not pass. Being
in possession Of an island that appeared
to be just suited for the experiment, he
found all obstacles TO the success of his
plan removed, and set about organizing
the affair.
He employed an agent, and put out
circular, in which he stated that be would
give so much "A head for every black cat
that could be got. This advertisement
was circulated through all the dounties
bordering upon the Chesapeake bay, and
the negroes got hold of it. In a very
| short time all the black cats through
those counties were stolen by the negroes
and sold to the Agent, who had depols
established at different couyeniert points.
Old ladies missed their tavorite cats, and
mourned them as dead-but the negroes.
melted by the price offered, spared none.
In this way one hundred and fifty blacl,
cats were collected and transported 10
the island and the agent took up his
abode there like another Robinson Cru
> soc, as superintendent and guardian Of
the cats, Those animals appeared to
$ enjoy themselves vastly when first nul
on the island, and spent their time in
), either playing with each other, or hunt
ing birds or ground mice; but al last
= their game failed them, and, having no
other supply Of food, they became hun
cry and desperate, and roamed about
the island in large bands, yelling for food.
They at last became dangerous, and the
, agent wrote 70 his employer statement
of these facts, accompanied by a request
70 know how he was to feed them H
wrote back lUr the agent 20 SET a couple
Q OF negroes TO work to catch and open
oysters for the cats, which order was
carried out The cats, having the alter
D native Of oysters or starvation before
Z them, very naturally chose the former
G. but, not being accustomed to such unna-
- tural food, species of cholera broke out
amongst them, and one-Lalt died.
! This calamity drove the survivors
mad, and they either committed suicide
a or, in a fit Of desperation, swan to The
!. main land. Al any rate, they disap-
T. peared, and We're never heard Of more.
The agent then wrote again to hi. EN-.
$ ployer to acquaint him with the result o
: this new treatment, which news was ac
g companied by modest request for th,
e payment Of his wages-lor this cat ex
9 pertinent occupied the space Of upward.
e of a year The latter was so Indignant
= at the conduct of both the agent and til,
q cats, that he fatty refused. and the con
sequence Of his refusal was u suit brou2h
d by the agent TO recover Isis wages. Til.
d suit has been defended for some ivy,
It years, and during IT. progress 1 have
Z become acquainted with the facts.
y As far as the theory Of the specula
'7 tion went, it was a magnificent idea
g The skin Of the black cat is worth il
IS Boston 80 cents. The eats, am told
= cost the agent just that sum. II was sup
posed that they would increase ten-iol
per annum. They say, first year, uumbc
Of cats, $50, second year, 1900, thir
$ year, $4,000, from which there could b
ID obtained 5000 toms for sale, bringin
1i S2500, and leaving 10000 stock eats re
Dr. maning, which at the above ratio Of in
Of crease, would give the fourth year tn
- enormous sum Of 100000 cats upon tA
island, after which, all the surplus owe
~ and above the last number. were 10 b
{; caught in boX-iraps and the skin sold t
is the Boston furr.ers. This stock or 100
II 0y0 cats were to produce 100000 pc
es annum, and tlie revenue consequently
," be derived from the island would be
be the neiglborhood Of 100000 per ar
be num- Washington Union.
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