Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-07-13
Circus Renaissance.
From the Detroit Free Press

entered the village. anu IN Oruer 10 SNc
show the same night We were compelled Il
erect our scenery in the ballroom of tn,
hotel for our first entertainment. The hal
was crowded and everything passed of
pleasantly. On the following morning, at
ter instructing the stage manager, Mr.
AmaSa Mactarlan, and the boss canvassman
Peter White, to erect the canvass for .h(
next performance. | started for the depot
with the intention of coming east TO jackson
to arrange for the following weeks per
formanccs, and return to Albion on the af-
ternoon train. While giving some last in
structions to Mack, | was accosted by little
ninety-pound Constable, who politely in
formed me that he had warrant tor my ar
rest, issued by Esquires Oakes Il think that
was his name) in which | was charged with
the Ofiense Of giving a "shOw for money
without having complied with the law on
the subject" pronuced permit which
my agent had obtained from another Justice
when he advertised the town. but it was not
| legal in Esquire Oakes' definition of the law
and so TO court was taken. The proseeu-
tors proceeded to identify me as the ticket
taker and the reputed manager, and | was
asked for my defense. had none-except
the individual permit pleaded in
exclamation my Ignorance of the law regulat-
ing amusements in the village of Albion, and
threw myself on the mercy of the court.
The court pitied me, but with due sense
OF its official position it was compelled to ad-
Judge me guilty of grieyious misdemeanOr,
and fined me $50, or bail in the SUN of
$3.50 for my appearance at the Calhoun
County Court, in the village of Marshall,
| the third week in September. 1t was easier
TO pay the so than TO give bail, for | was a
stranger among strangers, and As such
was taken in The money was deposited
with the court (under prOtest), and with
the understanding that it was to be held
in trust, subject to my appearance at the
County Court, and the final adjudication OF
the matter before that tribunal.
fastening from the COURTROOM ! repaired
10 the office "a coorer's shop) of my friend
the Justice who had issued the permit to
the agent, and explained to him my mis-
fortune and what Esquire Oakes had said
about majority of the Town Board.
He said if license was drawn up he would
take it to the Supervisors and town Clerk
for their approval and signatures and sign
it himself, and then | would be protected
in legal right (aecording to Esquire
Oakes' expoundng of the law). The docu-
ment, covering year, was drawn up and
| in few minutes the three official sigma
lures were affixed to it, and, all unknown
except to us four, ordered the great tent
to be erected for that nights show.
Macfarlan demonstrated at such hazard
Gus proceeding as trying TO give another
show after what had already transpired,
but being gently reminded that he was sub
ject to my instructions. and that |, and not
he, was the responsible party in a criminal
sense, he yielded to my persuasive argu-
ment-
Well, the canvass was soon up, and the
people of the little village were much ex-
cited at my impudence in thus daring to
give another show.
AT night the town talk was, "Will he
dare, will he dare to show -
The doors were opened at the usual time,
and in half an hour the canvass was crowd
ed. Everything pertaining to the perform
ance passed Of well, and | retired to my
room at the hotel with Sl03 in my pocket,
the amount taken for admission to tile
Great Original Itinerandum.'
But the end was not yet, In the morn
ing | was again arrested by the same little
Constable on warrant issued by the same
court as on the day previous. pleaded
with the Constable to the eject that had
already paid $50, and that intended to
give performances the remainder of the
week, but it was of no avail. So before
Justice Oakes | was again taken. The
courtroom was crowded, and was stared
a. tbn,,nI I
The people" called the same witnesses
as on the day before, and without asking
me for any defense for the second olense |
was adjudged guilty of misdemcanor-
second ofense, and fined $3.50 with the
alternative of giving bail in the sum Of
81 600 for my appearance at the Calhoun
County Court the third week in September.
was not prepared to comply with the
demands of the court, and. as was pro-
tected by my legal permit | did not wor-
| ~, but, on the contrary, told Ills Honor |
would not do either.
At this the court issued commitment,
commanded the Constable to take charge
Of the prisoner, and adjourned.
| was now the courts equal before the
law" for the court had adjourned. Stand
ing on nv dignity, | said at strikes me
that the prisoner has not had fair and i'm
partial examination"
To this his Honor replied "The court
thinks you have had fair and impartial
examination, but We would like to know of
what you complain"
simply, Judge, that you did not ask the
defendant for his defense
"0h," said the court, I'VE knew you had
none; it is merely repetition Of yesterday 5
ofense."
But, squire, twenty-fOur hours have al
ready elapsed since Yesterdays trial. and a
great deal can be accomplished in twenty
four hours. The fact is, ! have Il permit
from the majority Of the Town Board, and
here it IS
| | handed in the official document Aftel
a brief examination of it by the court anC
Prosecuting Attorney, | was severely cate
chised as to why had not before produced
it, ard the Constable ordered to releas,
me.
This was all very nice, but not satisfactory
to pe, 50, with more impudence than car
now boast Of ! said, ''Sir, in the eyes OF tn,
law l am prisoner and already in Jail a
Marshall this Is most m0rtilying to III,
sensitive nature, and unless am discharge
on the complaint of yesterday. as well a. o
this, and nv so refunded to me, | sha
take steps for your immediate arrest on th
charge Of false Imprisonment,
Suffice it to say, the $50 that ! had pai
over the day before was refunded, and
gave my performances for the remainder G
the week to large and appreciatiy
audiences
Since the event here alluded to hay
visited Albion several times. and on sue
occasions am always reminded Of my FIR
visit in lS43. When last there, but rcceatl
! was telling my story to a few persons d
the hotel, and at the conclusion of my II
, marks an old grey headed gentleman bur
out laughingly and remarked "Ry thur
der that was the first show | ever took III
gal to. She is now the mother of that Ia
fellow over there, and this ere bell boy
my grandson