Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-01-13
McKOw'S BILLY GOAT.
1t Came to Grief After Eating q Weeks
Wash.

1t Came to Grief After Eating a Weeks
Wash.
From the New York journal.
Rocky Hollow is a romantic bit Of landscape
on Staten Island. Its grottoes and rocks are
inhabited by some of the oldest families on the
island-the Fitzgeralds. the Ormonds. the In
chiquins, the McCormlcks and the O'Tooles.
But the king Of the Rocky Hollow, the monarch
Of all that domain. was John McKow's billy
goat. He was an imported goat-imported
from Haflem. AS an innocent kid he frolicked
on the Harlem hills. Years ago vessel of the
Wiman Line brought him to Staten Island.
Mr.. John McKow recognized the good qualities
of the goat, bought him and took him to the
McKow denesne at Rocky Hollow.
In short time he was favorite with every
man. woman and child in this idyllic place
Rocky Hollow free from the ambitions
and vanities of the world. but it took an honest
pride in McKOw's billy goat. In his adoles-
cence the goat had a beard, and as he grew to
be a middle-aged goat he had long blonde
whiskers. which gave him great dignity. Often
at eventide he might be seen standing on some
lone summit of Rocky Hollow with his dreamy
eyes fixed on the distant ocean, while some gale
from the mysterious sea blew through his long
white whiskers. Artists sketched this bu-
collie poet a model for the "bock beer goats
for the Staten Island brewery. McKow's goat
became a part of the harmony Of the Rocky
Hollow landscape. Rocky Hollow would have
lacked symmetry without him. Indeed. he be-
came a landmark.
The goat had horns like an ibex, whiskers
like Methuselah and ewes like Arstophanes
To see him go over the rocks YOU would think
he n geologist also. He knew every nook
and grotto and rock and tomato can in Rocky
Hollow. Sometimes, when circus or a thea err
came to Staten Island. he would make an ex-
z...lxl~
On these occasions he would stay away two or
three DAVIS and come home very fat Once,
after a visit to StapletOn, he was FRUSTRATED BY
an attack of indigestion. Either the ink or the
paste didn't agree with him.
The present winter has been dull theater
season in Stapleton. The ''Unce Toms Cabin
company. with Uncle Tom, Topsy and two
Ecas. dissolved at Perth Amboy and did not
even reach Staten Island. The Happy Hours"
company had its baggage seized bv the sheriff
at Tenafy, and was reluc tantly obliged to can
Gel all its Staten Island engagements. McKow's
billy goat dropped into Stapleton two or three
times and returned home sadly. He seemed to
feel the sorrow of the situation acutely
Wednesday there was good deal Of activity
in the Fitzgerald castle, and in the afternoon
the Fitzgerald demesne was white and fiutter-
ing with the weekly wash. McKows goat was
sauntering in melancholy abstraction on the
ridge of Rocky Hollow when he saw the wash
ing A strange and lurid light came into the
goats eyes.
1t may be said in extenuation that the goat
was desperate with hunger. He jumped over
the back fence OF the Fitzgerald estate and
walked up to the clothes line and began to eat
his dinner. He ate three shirts and a night
gown for solid dishes. half dozen neckties for
salad, some cuffs and collars for side dishes
and a few napkins for, dessert. Then he swal-
lowed nightcap for a bonnie bouche.
Mrs. Bridget Fitzgerald saw the goat BAN
quoting on the weekly wash, and ran out on the
lawn to drive him away. The goat has not
since been seen alive.
A. first it was suspected that he had dined too
heartily on the weekly wash, and had disd of
dyspepsia. Friends OF the missing goat
searched for him, and found him hanging life
less in barn near tho Fitzgerald demesne.
His long white whiskers had been trimmed
short. and his coat had been taken of.
The majesty Of the law was appealed to-
Mrs. Bridget Fitzgerald was arrested on the
extraordinary charge of "wilfully and unlaw-
fully conspiring to cause the death Of John
McKow's billy goat" She was locked up Thurs
day night in a cell in police headquarters in
Staplston. Yesterday morning she was ar
raigned before his honor, Justice Mcguire.
McKow charged her with having hired an
Italian-presumably a member Of the "Maia''
to kill the goat. He alleged that Mrs. Fitz-
ReraAd had paid the Italian s2 to undertake the
deed.
Mrs. Fitzgerald protested that she was limo
cent Of any conspiracy against the goat. His
honor, Justice Mcclure, committed the woman
to jail for fifty days.