The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-05-09
I-I|.III 80 Fof inc UaI0h,
THE GREAT MARYLAND BLAcK-CAT cAsl
an you NEE, black cat, shave him to the TAIL"

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THE GREAT MARYLAND BLACK-CAT CASE
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q II you a black cat, shave him 10 the tail"
This tremendous case is now pending before Judicial
tribunal of the State of Maryland and presents many re-
markable features of tho ingenuity and speculative GA
pacity of the defendant in the case For the bene6t
the legal profession and gentlemen generally who NAV
wish to enter field OF speculation will give.
short history Of the as l heard 1t.
Some few years ago gentleman of Maryland con-
ceivcd the idea that immense fortune could be real
lied by the rearing of black cats for the sake of t
skins The principal obstacle 10 the plan the imps
sibty of keeping the animals together and preventing
them from wandering Off their activity assisted by The
penetrating qualities of their claws would enable them 10
defy any enclosure and at last, after much thinking
the idea suggested itself to his mind that water the
only barrier that the cats would not pass Being pos
session of island that appeared to be just suited for the
experiment he found all obstacles to the of his
plan removed, and set about organizing the affair
He employed agent, and put out circular in
which he stated that he would give much a head for
every black cat that GOULD be got This advertisement
circulated through all the counties bordering upon
the Chesapeake bay and the negroes got hold Of IT, In
very short time all the black cats through those coun
ties stolen by the negroes and sold to the Aar
who had depots established at different convenient points
Old ladies missed their EIvore cats and incurred them
deadbut the negroes, melted by the price Offered
spared In this way hundred and fifty black
collected and transported to the island and the
agent took up his abode there like another Robinson Cru
superintendent Buarulali Oh inc czu6 Those
animals appeared to enjoy themselves vastly when first
put the island and spent their time in either playing
with each other, hunting birds or ground mice but
at last their game failed Them and, having other sup
ply Of food, they became hungry and desperate, and
roamed about the island in large bands yelling for food
They at last became dangerous and the agent wrote
to his employer statement of these facts, accompanied
by request to know how he was to feed them He
wrote back for the agent to set couple OF negroes
work to catch and open oysters for the cats which order
was carried out The CATS having the alternative oy
tiers starvation before them, very naturally chose tho
former but, not being accustomed to such unnatural
food, species of cholera broke out amongst them and
one-haf died
This calamity drove the survivors mad and they either
committed suicide or in fit of desperation tothe
main land At any rate, they disappeared, and
heard of more
The agent then wrote again to his employer acquat
him with the result of this treatment, which
was accompanied by modest request for the payment
his wagesfor this cat experiment occupied space
upwards OF year. The latter indignant at the
conduct of both the agent and the cats tha he fatty
fused and the consequence of his refusal sui brought
by the agent to his wages This suit has been
defended for two years. and during its progress
have become acquainted with the facts.
AS far the theory of the speculation went it was
magnificent idea The skin of the black cat is worth
Boston so cents The CATS am told, cost the agent
just that 1t supposed that they would increase
exactly tenfold per annuln. Then say first year. mum
Der Of cats, $50 second year. 1900 third year. Is 900
from which there could be obtained 5000 toms for sale
bringing So 500, and leaving 5000 stock cats remain
ing which, at the above ratio of increase would give the
fourth year the of 100000 cats upon the
island after which all the surplus, and above The
last number, We're to be caught in box-t traps and tho
skins sold the Boston furres. This stock of 100 900
cats to produce 1000, 600 per annum, and the
consequently TO be derived from the island would
be in the neghborhood Of $500, 900 per annum.
The principal drawback to the enterprise was tho
utter inability of the cats to organize or band to-
Octh for
thus facilitating their hunting operation 3d. after deep
reflection upon the subject, it determined to import
couple of wild cats from South America, whose ams
ture with his cats would not only add strength 10 the
body and value to the fur but whose executive qualities
might be brought to bear in organizing the original set
tiers into large hunting packsand thus enable them
successfully pursue the squirrels and ground mice with
which the island aboundcd-and, III fact to teach these
unfortunate animals who, torn from the comfortable
fresc werc of course ignorant of the necessities Of av
age life, the mysteries of the chase He readily found
friend willing TO procure him the new cats. I'm afraid
this friend regarded the whole matter joke, but
any rate he faithful to his promise, and afd
his arrival in Rio Janero possible he set natse
hunting, who caught two young tiger cats of exaor
binary erocty which he placed in cage and shipped
Baltimore.
When he had almost forgotten tho matter he sur
prsed by the receipt of aletter apprsng him OF the
rival Of these Wild beasts and requested Ito come
forward, pay charges, and take them away" He hurried
into town and found these young tigers about the size
medium 6etter-dOS, and bill oil charges Of severn
hundred per cent. than he anticipated He Iadit
and ordered two negroes to convey tho beasts In cart owl
to his country home for he wished to exhibit them BE-
fore he sent them down to take command Of the island
cats IA
On the road ont to his place the cats glared and spit
the negroes in such endsh manner that to get rdd
them, they turned the cage the bar side where
by one of the cats snothered.
The survivor being deprived of his mate became moro
ferocous than ever and it became question whether
would be safe for the cats upon the island to turn It o
among them The owner very much worried until
his negro suggested that they should try the ei
pertinent by putting u tame cat into the cage.
The idea the very thing. cat procured and
introduced into the cge. In about two minutes 1t was
torn into shreds and utterly devoured OF it would
have been madness to turn the beast loose the island
so the idea Abandoned and has been kept since
small menagerie attached 10 the gentlemans house
with the exception Of periodical visit to the Agricutu
raj Fair in Baltimore, when il placed among the pou
try and the hearts Of the chickens to die within
them. This is short history of tho great black cal
scheme and the suit arising from It, Whether there
legal ability in the State sufficient to settle the latter
more than am able to say.
ANNAPOLIS, Md, May 3, 1858. -
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