Morning journal and courier., 1881-02-17
Drummed to Their Death.
[From the New Castle tPenn.) News. l


 most remarkable phenomenon was wit
 messed in the Second ward, this city, on Fri day afternoon of last week. being no less l than large number of rats being enticed to
 their death by the roll of drums. number l of the small boys of this city, hearing it said
 that rats could be brought out of their holes
 by the beating of drums, determined to try the experiment. So procuring number of these instruments of martial music and half l dozen dogs with weakness for rat flesh, they proceeded to barn near Pearson's
 Touring mill in which structure were known to dwell many well Lied rodents who subsisted on the contents of the grain bins near by Stationing part of their number with drums
 in the hay mow of the stables, and the others at the doors with the dogs, everybody was eager for the fray. The drummers brought their sticks down on the taut calf-skin, and soon the building shook to it's very founda- tion with the deafening roll. Several boys
 had been stationed at various knot holes in the floor of the hay mow, and these youths
 peering down into the semi darkness below
 soon saw little twinkling eyes appear at certain apertures all around the apartment
 beneath. The drumming was continued and sharp noses and then sleek bodies of rats came from the holes. Soon the rapid rolling of the drums seemed to excite the rodents to a point beyond self control. They began to caper and whisk around the stable floor as if intoxicated. They ran around the feed bins in wild chase after each other. So rapidly did they turn corners that their tails snapped with a report like that of bullwhacker's whip and made the flour fly from their caudal appendages so as to fill the apartment with dust. Now was the time for action. The boys with the dogs were signaled, the doors were opened and the canines let in on them. The unfortunate rats seemed to be under spell and made no attempt to seek their holes. For five minutes slaughter reigned supreme, and when it had subsided the floor was cov- cred with the bodies of forty-three rats Again were the drums brought into requisi- tion, and the same scene ensused again. This time thirty eight rats bit the dust. The boys continued their operations with drums and dogs all the afternoon, and when even- ing came there were piled up in front of the stable mangled, cut and torn, the bodies of four hundred and seventy-nine rats, in fact all the rodents which had lived and thrived for years on the grain in the mill had been totally exterminated.
 s.Hotels'' With ssThree Beds''-A Rule
 Which Works Two Ways.
 The plaintiff Tin the case of Koffer against Willis, in the New York Court of Common Pleas was asked by another person, one Brewster, Ito come out to dinner" They went to the defendants establishment, where Brewster had been in the habit of going, but where the plaintiff had never been before. They went into the restaurant, which was considerably crowded with people at the time, where there were several tables, and where the plaintiff saw 'all around the room hooks occupied almost entirely by coats of guests hung up." He and Brewster hung up their overcoats, upon adjoining hooks, and then sat down at a large table in the centre of the room, about eight or ten feet from the place where their coats hung, and had dinner, for which Brewster paid When the plaintiff went to get his coat it was gone. He notified the defendant of the loss, and that he would hold him responsible. The premises occupied by the defendant, where he kept a restaurant and had rooms fitted up for the of guests, consisted of the first floor and basement and the half of what was called the top floor of the building. It appears that about three weeks previously the defendant applied for a license as an linn, tavern or hotel keeper" which application accompanied Ey his affi- davit in which he sets forth that he then kept an inn or tavern at that place; and that he had sufficient ability to keep one, and the. necessary accommodations to entertain travel lers at that place that an inn or tavern was required there for the accommodation of tray ellers that he kept in the house at least three spare beds and the necessary bedding for the accommodation of travellers; that he had the necessary kitchen utensils to provide meals for and did provide meals for them on appl1caG1On ana CQaG ne laQ cOmpueO with the law to place on or adjacent to the house sign indicating that he kept an inn or tavern upon which application he re- ceived license to sell spirituous liquors, ale, etc..
 The defendant himself has established by his own declaration that he keeps an inn, having obtained, upon an affidavit made by him for that purpose, license to sell spiritu- ous liquors upon the premises, which he could not have obtained unless upon proof by affidavit to the Board of Commissioners of Excise that he kept an inn, and that an inn was necessary for the accommodation of travellers in the place where he kept. The fact that the defendant kept an inn being liability necessarily attaches in respect to all who come to his inn for the purpose of entertainment As the plaintiff in the present case went into the restaurant, which was part of the defendants establish nent to get his dinner, he was certainly there n the character of a guest which is not affected by the circumstances that the friend who asked him to go there paid for the din- her. If it was an inn, the defendant was for the loss of a coat while the plaintiff was taking his dinner; and as the justice below held that it was, do not see now we say that he erred when the facts sworn to in the defendants affidavit show that it was.-Opinioaa of C7itef Justice Duly.