The Nevada Democrat., 1858-06-23
fFrom the Washington Union
THE GREAT MARYLAND BLACK-CAT
CASE.

CAShs
s.If YOU meet a black cat shave him to the tall"
This tremendous case is now pending before
judicial tribunal of the State of Maryland.
and presents many remarkable features OF the
ingenuity and speculative capacity of the de-
fendant 10 the case For the benefit OF the legal
profession and gentlemen generally who may
wish to enter new field Of speculation, will
give short history of the case as l heard it.
Some few years ago gentleman Of Maryland
conceived the idea that an immense fortune
could be realized by the resring of black CATS
for the sake of their skins. The principal OBJ
stacle to the plan was the imposslblllty OF keep
ing the animals together and preventing them
from wandering off, as their activity, assisted
by the penetrating qualities of their claws,
would enable them to defy any enclosure; and
at last. 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 circu-
lar, 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 counties bordering upon the Chesapeake
bay and the negroes got hold of it. In short
time all the black cats in those counties were
stoleu by the negroes and sold TO the AGENT,
who had depots established at different conven-
lent points. Old ladies missed their favorte
cats, and mourned them as dead-but the ne
groes, melted by the price offered, spared none.
In this way one hundred and fifty black cats
were collected and transported to the island;
and the agent took up his abode there like an
other Robinson CrusoO, &c superintendent and
guardian of the cats. Those animals appeared
to enjoy themselves vastly when first put on the
island, and spent their time in either playing
with each other, or hunting birds or ground
mice; but at last their game failed them, and,
having no other supply 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 a statement Of these facts, ac-
eompanied by a request to know how he was
to feed them. He wrote back for the agent to
set couple of negroes TO work to catch and
open opsters for the cats, which order was car
ried out. The cats having the alternative OF
oysters or starvation before them, very natu-
rally chose the former; but not being accus-
toned to such food, species OF cholera broke
out amongst them, and one-half died.
This calamity drove the survivors mad, and
they either committed suicide, or, in fit of
desperation. swan to the main land. At any
rate, they disappeared, and were never heard
of more.
The agent then wrote again to his employer
! to acquaint him with the result of this new
treatment, which rews was accompanied by
modest request for the payment Of his wages
for this cat experiment occupied space of up
wards of q year. The latter was so indignant
at the conduct of both the agent and the cats
that he fatty refused, and the consequence of
bis refusal was suit brought by the agent to
recover his wages. This suit has been defended
for some two years, and during its progress |
have become acquainted with the facts
As far as the theory of the speculation went,
it was maghfcent idea. The skin of the black
cat is worth in Boston so cents The cats,
am told, cost the agent just that sum. 1t was
supposed that they wonld increase exactly ten
fold per annum. Then say, first year, number
of cats, l50 second year, 1900; third year, l5,-
600 from which there could be obtained 5000
toms for sale, bringing $2,500, and leaving TO-
600 stock cats remaining, which, at the above
ratio of increase would give the fourth year
the enormous sum of 100, 900 cats upon the is
land, after which all the surplus, over and above
the last number were to be caught in boX-traps
and the skins sold to the Boston furrers. This
stock of 100,0 900 cats were to produce 100000
per annum, and the revenue to be derived from
the island would he in the neighborhood of
$500, 900 per annum.
The principal drawback to the enterprise was
the utter inability of the cats to organize or
band together for the purpose of assisting each
other, and thus facilitating their hunting opera
ton So after deep reflection upon the subject,
it was determined to import couple of wild
cats from South America. whose admixture with
his cats would not only add strength to the body
and value to the fur, but whose executive quail
ties might be brought to bear in organizing the
original settlers into large hunting packs-and |
thus enable them TO successfully pursue the squir-
rels and ground mice with which the island |
abounded-and, in fact, to teach these unfor-
tunate animals, who, torn from the comfortable |
freside, were, of course, ignorant of the neoes-
sites of savage life, the mysteries of the chase.
He readily found friend willing to procure |
him the new cats. I'm afraid this friend re-
garded the whole matter as joke. but at any
rate he was faithful to his premise, and as soon
after his arrival in Rio Janeiro as possible he
set some natives hunting, who caught two tiger
eats of extraordinary ferocity, which he placed
in a cage and shipped to Baltimore.
When be had almost forgotten the matter he
was surprised by the receipt of letter appris-
ing him of the arrival Of these wild beasts, and
was requested "to come forward, pay charges,
and take them away" He hurried into town
and found these young tigers about the size of
medium setter-dog, and bill OF charges OF
several hundred per cent. more than he antici-
pated. He paid it, and ordered two negroes to
convey the beasts in cart out to his country
home, ;for he wished to exhibit them before he
sent them down to take command Of the island
cats.
On the road out to his place the cats glared
and spit at the negroes in such fendish man
ner that, to get rid of them, they turne6 the
cage over on the bar side, whereby one Of the
cats was smothered.
The survivor, being deprived of his mate,
became more ferocious than ever and it became
question whether it would be safe for the cats
upon the island to turn it loose among them.
The owner was very much worried until his ne
gro man suggested that they should try the ex-
pertinent by putting q tame cat into the cage.
The idea was the very thing cat was nro-