The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1877-09-20
Board for His Bear.

"He's an English lord" whispered a
policeman in the Toombs Police Court,
Yesterday, pointing to a tall, we'll
dressed man of distingue appearance,
who was making his way to the judges
desk. GA real live thoroughbred lord"
echoed another officer, who appeared to
be conversant with the aus of the gen.
tleman's presence. One of your regu-
lar British aristocrats," chimed a third,
with an air of deep knowledge. His
lordship advanced to the stand in COM
pany with his counsel and private secre-
tary. az wish to appear" said he, as
complainantagainst a man for extortion."
The man indicated was w. H. Lucas,
proprietor of the Fulton House, No 391
Greenwich Street. He stood in charge
of an officer Immediately behind the
complainant.
"What are the circumstances? asked
Judge Duffy.
Gle insists on charging me a most
exorbitant and unreasonable price for
the board of my boy and bear and"
"Your whatp said the magistrate,
opening his eyes in establishment.
"My boy and bear. My grizzly
bear"
The judges eyes opened still wider.
The complainant, however, was in earn
est. He meant bear.
al never heard of such a thing as
boarding a BEAR" said the magistrate,
looking mystifed.
my name is John A. Chandos," ex-
| claimed the complainant. GA week
ago l placed a young grizzly bear, which
l brought from the Rocky Mountains,
in the hotel of the prisoner, together
with a little boy, to mind him and take
him to England to my park. The boy
was a little outcast whom l picked W
while travelling in the West. He is al
English lad, and finding him homeless
determined to send him to England il
charge of the bear. This man evidently
wished to take advantage of my being {
stranger to American customs, and h,
charged me two dollars a day for thu
boys board and three dollars a day TO
the bear. 1 don't mind the money, bu
I do object to being made a victim tt
extortion."
"What do you say, Lucas?" said tn,
Judge, turning to the prisoner.
"Well, your honor, a boy came to III,
hotel a week ago and said he wanted t.
board for a week, and that he had
young grizzly bear in a cage with him
He said his boss was an English lord an,
was going to send him with the bear i
his park in England, and that his maste
wanted the bear to be we'll cared for; t
be fed with the best the hotel afforded
and hat the cost was no object. l too
them in-the boy and the bear-an
fed the bear on the best in the market
OH Judge, the bear was an awful eater
1 used to give him four pounds of mea
every day, several quarts of milk, a
the pies he could swallow, and fift
pounds of ice. / never saw such a bea
to eat"
"This is absurd" interposed the con
plainant. ain the first place l al
simply Mr.. Chandos. 1 am in tn
country for the purpose of negotiatin
some patents. My office is on Broat
way. The bear is only two months oil
and eats very little"
"But amt you going to pay anythir
for his viciousnessT Indignantly aske
the hotel man.
"The little animal is mild" continue
Mr.. Chandos. "He was safely cage
and was little trouble"
The magistrate looked ~perplexed. "
hardly know how to decide this"
said. "But I must say the charg
, seem very high. Can't you compr
mise?"
, az offered him twenty dollars, but
refused, and said he wouldhold the bea
l am afraid he will injure the animal
The matter was finally arranged
the hotel proprietor accepting twent
E seven dollars for the board of the bC
I and the bear and the prisoner wa di
) charged. Whether Mr.. Chandos is
fact a " real live lord" as the policems
observed, or simply an English gent
man of wealth, did not officially ira
cpiro