The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1885-05-06
A "Circus" Court In Aiken.
THE "DANCING DOG WOMAN" vs..
A SHOW AND MUSEUM.

THE SDASClkG DOG WOMANS vs..
A SHOW AND MUSEUM.
Two Days Spent Over a Claim for
$4O2-Humors of n "Isustcti" Com
pany-Stoyyc & Itowe and thcir
Convenient Alternative Ownership
of Canvas, Crocodile and Other
''Proporties''-A Verdict for $3.50.
From Special News aud Courier Cores
pondent.
AIKEN, April 2S.-The Circuit Court
is frequently alluded to by the unlctter-
ed as the Circus Court" but it is not
often that the terms are literally con-
vertiblc. One Of the cases on the Com
mon Pleas docket for this term of the
Court for Aiken, however, makes n case
in point, in which two whole days, Fri
day and Saturday, were consumed in
the litigation Of a somewhat interesting
suit. The plaintiff in the case is the ill.,
starred prima donna, so to speak, of
what is or was known as the '.Grost Va
riety Show Of one, Frank Stowe, Of
MichiShan. This is the same unrortu-
nate organization which dissolved and
fell to pieces at Eauclusc in this county
some time ago under numerous attach
mentx by the Sheriff for past due hotel
bills and sundry other claims Of sundry
other innocen. admirers Of the Frank
Stowe Variety Show. The history Of
the show begins at Troy, Tennessee,
where also originated the cause of the
present action. At that place, when
things with the "show' were at their
gloo,nicst, Frank Stowo telcgraphed to
a Mrs. Josephine Hccke, who was then
living ut Manchester, Now Hampshire,
and offered her engagement for the
season. Madame IIccke, as sho is term
cd, accepted the engagement and came
down South much after the fashion Of
"fair Incz' who pushed Westward with
the same object in view, that il ~ say
the conquest Of new worlds Of fashion
and frivolity. Madame Hecke was, aud
perhaps tx, the fortunate owner Of siy
trained dogs. which, rs appears. were
the special attraction in the cycs Of tho
the manager Of the Frank Stowe
Variety Show. The agreement bo-
tween tho manager and "the Matlamn
was that she was to be allowed as com
pensation for the services of herself and
trained animals FPS per week and, as the
expressed it. "board for myself
and my dogs" Under this contract
Madame Hecke Joined the troupe at
Troy, Tennessee. and after ak months
Of varied misfortunes and adventures
found herself out Of job when the
fell through at Vaucluse not
many months ago. From Eaucluse sho
went to Augusta, from which place she
came few days ago and entered suit in
this Court for $4O2, balance due on sala-
~ al per contract with Frank Stowe.
She appeared in Court on Friday morn
ing with her counsel, the Hon. G. w.
Croft and VIM. r. Floyd, Esq, and as it
vas expected that she would make out
a good case tho Courtroom was crowded
to hear the pro and con Of the only cir
Gus case Of the term. Tho defendant
circus Was represented by the Hon. ID.
S. Henderson and o. c. Jordan. ESQ.
TmR PLAINTIFF CIRCUS
sat by hor counsel, and presented by
with the legal "customary suit
Of solemn black somewhat dashing
and captivating appearance. She was
attircd in a handsome brown silk dress,
trimmed with velvet to match. and al
though somewhat subducd by her nov
el surroundings, there was still some
thing in her tout ensemble suggestive
Of the light "gymnastic toc," and of an
innate greatness tina. could scarcely be
represscd by judge or jury. From
purely aesthetic point Of view, her eyes
had that ''come whero my love lies
dreaming" expression, which is 30 indis-
pensable feature Of tho ladies Of the
sawinst persuasion. The proof in the
case, however, showed that Madame
Hecke "saw dust" in the financial accep.
tation of the word in very small broken
doses, and in fact was more sinncd
against than SHINING. Considering that
in her day. which was not moro than
two months ago, she was the observed,
Of all observers and travelled as celeb
rity from Troy, Tenn, to Vaucluse, S.
G.. in all the unrivalled pomp and glori-
GUS circumstance Of the 'inimitablc
Madame Josephine" her quiet demean-
or in Court waa at once sad but edify-
ing illustration Of the rnutability Of hu-
man affairs in general and the total de-
pravity Of circus managers in particular.
From time to time she would lean over
in consultation with counsel, and over
and anon having given or taken advice
she would apply lovo Of little vial
tn n nogo which vore n normopont on5