Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1858-07-08
The Great Maryland Cat Case.

The Great Maryland Cat Case.
This tremendous case is now pending
before judicial tribunal of the State of
Maryland, and presents many remarkable
features of the defendant in the case. For
the benefit of the legal profession and gen.
tleman generally who may wish to enter a
new field of speculation, will give a short
history of the case as | heard it: ....-
Some few years ago gentleman of
Maryland conceived the idea that an inn
mense fortune could be realized by the
rearing of black cats for the sale of their
skins. The principal obstacle to the plan
was the impossibility of keeping the ami
mails together preventing them from wan
dering 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 suggest
ed itself TO his mind that water was the
only barrier that the cats would not pass.
Being in possession of an island that ap-
peared 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 a
circular, in which he stated that he would
give so much head for every black cat
that could be got. This advertisement was
irculated through all the counties border
ing on Chesnpeak bay, and the negroes got
hold of it. In a very short time all the
black cats through those counties were sto-
len by the negroes and sold to the agent,
who had depots established at different con-
venient points. Old ladies missed their
favorite cats, and mourned them as dead
but the negroes melted by the price Of
fered, spared none. In this way, one hun
dred and fifty cats were collected and trans
ported to the island; and the agent took
up his abode there like another Robinson
Crusoe, as superintendent and guardian of
the cats. Those animals appeared to en-
joy themselves vastly when first put on the
island, and spent their time in either play
ing 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 yel-
ling for food. They ut last became dam
gerous, and tbe agent wrote to his en-
ployer statement of these facts, accom-
panied by request to know how he was
to feed them. He wrote back for the agent
to set couple of negroes to work and
catch and open oysters for the cats, which
order was carried out. TIE cats having
the alternative to eat oysters or starvation
before them, very naturally chose the for
mer; but, not being accustomed to such
unnatural food, species of cholera broke
out among 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 to his employer
to acquaint him with the result of this new
treatment, which news was accompanied
with modest request for the payment Of
his wages-for this cat experiment occu
pied space of upwards of a year. The
latter was so indignant at the conduct of
both the agent and cats, that he fatty re-
fused, and the consequence of his refusal
was n suit brought by the agent to recover
his wages. This suit has been defended
for some two years, and during IFS progress
l have become acquainted with these facts.
As far as the theory of the speculation
went, it was a magnificent idea. The skin
of the black cat is worth SO cents. The
cats, am told, cost the agent just that
sum-. 1t was supposed that they would
increase exactly tenfold per annum. Then
say, first year, number of cats $50, second
year, 1900; third year, $4,000; from
which there could be obtained 5000 toms
for sale, bringing $4,000, and leaving ten
stock cats remaining, which, at the above
ratio of increase, would give the fourth
year the enormous sum of 100000 cats
upon the island, 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 furriers.. This stock of 100,
600 cats were to produce 100000 per
annum, and the revenue consequently to
be derived from the island would be in the
neighborhood of s5oO,ooO per annum.-
WASH. Union.