The Placer herald., 1874-08-15

STORY OF the LITTLE FROG CATCHER


cisco Post, July 2Sth, whose local editor
is noted for having an astute eye for such
tales:
Several times recently brief items have
appeared in the city papers chroncling the
arrest of young French woman, Jenny Bon
net by name, for wearing mans clothes
his morning a reporter Of the Post inter-
viewed the girl the City Prison, as the
noisome cellar of the City Hall is called 10y
courtesy. The girl is quite good looking, and
seems about twenty-one or twenty-five years
If age.
She was dressed neatly in plain pants,
light coat, dark vest, a white flannel shirt,
4 dark neckle and round fe t hat. She has
pretty white hands, and on the finger of one
sliter's IA plain gold ring. She is very
feminine in her appearance, but, dressed as
she is, looks like delicate boy.
The story she told was this 4 used to
he in one of the saloons in this city. Some
seven or eight months ago, was arrested
md sent to the County Jail, charged with be
my an accomplce to IA burglary. | don't
known anything about the burglary, but
was kept there in the jail three months be-
fore the case came up for trial and then
was acquitted | had time to think while
was in j'il and saw that it was bad for me
TO get mixed up in such scr'pes. did not
ike the course of lite was drifting TO, and !
made up my mind to get out of it. The,
we're making IA fuss about the saloons; they
said women were going to be turned out OF
hem, and - | thought would 90 into the
country and get living by catching frogs
w hat made you think of tog catching?
We'll, heard money was 10 he made il
it. What is there for II woman to do helef
could stay here and prostitute myself, On
tend babies and wash dishes for ten or Tiff
teen dollars IL month Neither OF these en-
poyments suits me-, and the lip of the
Young girl curIed at the thought
What can you ea.n at frog catchlnsy
From five TO fifteen dollars day when
business is sood?'
Aud You prefer male attire in your bust
ness?'
! would look well in women's clothes up
in water to my neck wouldn't Our bus
lness is best in the darkest nights, and get
mp at one o'clock and 90 through bushes and
ravines and work in The water. A nice
thing hooped skirts and womans toggles
would he for me! don't care TO run the
risk Of breaking my neck in them. WEeh
my business Isn't good | hunt. get my
living in the woods Sometimes | 90 to San
Leandro, sometimes to other places, wherev
rr | can get a chance | take long walks
md work hard Some lines | walk twenty
five miles at stretch. never have done
harm TO any one, have never injured any
person here, yet they catch me and shut INT
up rs if | was wild beast.
DO you come 10 the city muchy
Only on business. Sometimes am here
only an hour or two sell my frogs and
buy my bread and meat, and whatever |
need and go away again. If stayed IN the
city and caroused or got drunk or splurged
,round could see reason for arrestlng me +;
but | don't just 60 about my business
md leave. Yet they lay in wait for me and
catch me whenever | come to town, and
bring me to this nasty place.
DO you like your business?
| like 10 be in the woods with the wild
cats and the cnyoles. am not afraid Of
them. They don't harm me 1t is these
men here HAT am afraid Of and yet ! am
not afraid of them in 4 certain sense. only
,sk to be let alone that | may attend to my
business ri ey call this free country
do really try to get IN honest Ii ing, and
hey try, TO force me into IA disreputable lie
am almost discouraged. | don't know bu
will have to give it up yet, and the youne
.rl looked anxious and sad.
II I'VE you oeen up 10 court to-day?
No wish cou d 20 10 court. have
been here in this nasty ! lace three days,
now, and likely have to stay four or five
days more My lawyer hasn't time to at
end to my case yet.
Who is your lawyerY
'Mr Darwin. | think he bad ME ar
rested He wants me for a witness IL t'e
Criminal Court | told him this morning
that thought he had me arrested. know
It is not necessary Tor man to read war
rant to me when he arrests me, as the OH
Ger did this time. Mr.. Darwin said he had
been watching for me and my partner for /"
good while. | haven't time TO stay round
tor Il witness. have no desire to 90 to the
Criminal Court.
'Cdn'I yon get out?
4 can if will pay $50 bail, but don'i
know AS | want to do that. They kno"
that make money at my business, so nov
they will be arresling me and finlng me TIL
hey got il all. 1t is hard work for a wo
man to get living. This is a nasty place,
md besides that | don't feel exactly well.
Seven weeks ago was shot in ihe breast.
don't k, ow whether the mn did it acci.
'lentally or on purpose. The doctor took
out the bullet and six days after | was Al
work, but took a cold, and so | am not as
well AS usual didn't arrest the IN IN for
shooting me; | have no fancy for publicity
All | want is to be let alone hat may al
tend to my business, and not be hunted