Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-08-08
rnE WEIGHT OF EVIDENCE.
4 Bah, Elephant EheS Silent Iestimo.
nv In Guurf.
LNn.inN N srs. lNlN ID.

the case Ut Thurman Y. Bertram and
Roberts WAS heard. This was n peculiar
and amusing ease, and would almost
tend to show the ACCESSIBILITY OF extend.
ing the privileges of witnesses to the
brute creation under the attorney gem
erals new code, Tor, probably for the
first tlme III the history Of legal pro eed.
ure, an elephant Appeared in court aud
gave fercihe, il dumh, testimony. The
action was brought hy Young lady
against the WeltkuSMn firm ot Messrs.
Rertram and Roberts, tho public cA,Ss-
ors, to recover damages fur personal
injuries received through the alleged
negligence Of the defendants servants.
On the 9TH Of July, 1873, the plaintiff,
her uncle, MIR. Palmer, and some other
persons went IN 4 wsgonette To the AT.
exandria palace, where the Nuhian en-
campment, with camels and elephants,
etc, was then daily attracting large
crowds. Some Of the party went to sre
the show, while others preferred the
equally elective, hut less costly, pro.
ceeding OF peeping through the gaps in
the hoarus, and standing upon their
traps and looking over. The wagonette
was drawn ny On tho carriage walk, and
Mr. Palmer admitted that he had Ill
lowed the reins to pass from his hands.
jast ut tho conclusion OF the perform.
ance the baby elephant came out with
his keeper, and, according 70 the PLAIN
tits case, frightened the pony ny its
"unsichtly and unusual appearance. !"
The pony accordingly holtod, and the
plaintiff WAS thrown ont uf the back of
the carriage, and fractured her collar
houo, She was i'll for several mouths,
and two doctors attended her One ut
tended her for over three weeks, and
his charges reached ft2 las., while the
other saw her six or eight times, his
charges amounting 10 something over
Is,
MIR. Saltar said AIR. Palmer admitted
10 having let the rCins slip from his
hands, and said the accident happened
immediately on their drawing III to the
Nuhian encampment, whereas il was
clear NJ least twenty minutes had
elapsed But he knew he had drawn
up close 10 n wild,heast show, where all
sorts of strange NOISES were continually
heard, aud the lions he said no heard
there existed only in his imagination.
He, moreover, was doing Il very mean
thing III looking over at show for
which he had not paid. AT n place Of
that kind there were always blast of
trumpels, PROFESSIONS and NIL sorts of
startling things. why, he goes there,
said the learned counsel, ITO be sur.
prised, and 40 does his pony. But |
will show you TINT there was notice
up warning carriages not TO letter on
ia NJ part Of tho rond TINT there was
abundant warning given by The attend.
ants OF the approach OF the animal,
that the elephant is specially docile nnd
tame, and lastly, Tint tho accident did
not happen till the elephant had passed
some distance beyond Mr.. Palmer's
trap. Therefore something else must
have frightened the pony"
George ktbbln, the keeper, wns the
first witness called. lie did not answer
for some time, and MIR. Salter said II
nm told ne ~ IN charge Of tho elephant
outside III Palace yard, my lord.
Baron Pollock Pray do not let him
lcnve tha elephant.
MIR. S,lter--l believe the bnby ele.
plant ha4 excessively amiable manners
and that he will come into court and
get into tho witness.box.
Baron Pollock If 40, think il very
desirable TINT we should see him.
kibble then entered the box and was
sworn, and said he was bringing the
baby out by the ear, rs usual, after the
performance on the day in question.
lie was u "haby"-thnt was under Ia
years old. Elephants grew Till they
were 43,
MIR, Hall-fhe average agc, believe,
is from 100 to 100 years.
His Lordship--Do you know that Of
your personal experience, Mr.. Hall.
MIR. Hall-Happily not, my lord.
Examination resumed Mr.. Womb
well said Take care Of your horses,
gentlemen, ms they aro apt to be
frightened by the animals" After we
had passed the plaintiffs carriage the
horse turned round and the wheel
came oil and he bolted.
The baby elephant then walked into
court himself, with bells on his head,
following kbble in the most perfect
way. lie threaded his way through the
"mazes Of the law" in the body of
crowded court in the most wonderful
and clever fashion, like the most nc.
complished q. G., and caused some
CONSERVATION by making his exit at
the other side, where no passage had
been cleared in the crowd. While he
stood, Il mute witness for the defense,
before the jury, Mr.. Il. Jones said,
cross-examining II have no questions
To ask" which caused roar Of
Laughter.
Mr.. Salter-T That il, am thankful to
say, the last witness IN the case.
Baron Pollock Cannot you come 10
some arrangement iii the case2
Mr.. Saltor-My clients would be
willing to pay the young lady's doctors
bills, my lord, but ! am instructed not
70 consent 70 any verdict that would
convey the stigma Of negligence on the
defendants or their servants.
Mr.. Day then, who had meanwhile
come into court, consulted with his
client, the offer was accepted and Il
juror WIS withdrawn.