The morning call., 1894-10-12
LAURA OR BILLY.
Mrs. Donnelly Once Had
a Parrot.
SANG TARA-RA BOOM-DE-AY.
A Heartless Ruffian Took 1t
From Her.
MR.. MARTIN HAD A PARROT ALSO
Now Both of Them Are in Court
Fighting for the Possession
of One Bird.
MR.. MARTIN HAD A PARROT ALSO

Mrs. Bernard Donnellv, who lives at
Minna street, has lost her parrot; bird
answering her description of the missing
one is raising the very deuce in the
Sheriff's Office, and Bob Martin. the we'll
known saloon man at sos kearny street,
swears ScanSore is his. And there ii is
This is the second time in Two weeks
that the bird has been in the clutches of
the law, but he does not seem to mind it
little bit. He insisted on hanging head
downward in his cage at the Sheriff's OF
fee all yesterday afternoon. alternating
''Tara-ra-b 0om-de-ay" with shrill cries of
Hip. hip. hurrah!'
It'was Impossible 10 do much work in
the office, and Billy Deane. who has the
task of guarding the brilliantly plumed
prisoner, aged perceptibly under the strain.
Mrs. Donnelly was in and out several
times bewailing the sad fate that kept the
bird prisoner.
Laura Donnelly." she cried, with tears
in her eyes. Laura DonneIly, they're try
ing to take you from me, but they Sban't!'
AS Mr.. Martin, the other claimant, in
sists that the bird is named BILLY. the
KID" another conflict of opinion is ap-
parent
Three weeks ago Mrs. Donnelly lost her
parrot. Some unconscionable scoundrel
came along and nipped it from its little
home. Mrs. Donnelly loved the bird al
most to distraction, and the loss grieved
her sOrely. She set to work at once to dis
cover its whereabouus-whe or not she
hired detectives is not known-Dut she
located the bird she claims as hers in front
of Martins establishment on Kearny
street. Police Officer Michael Joseph Con-
boy was passing at the time, and the parrot
no sooner caught sight of his buttons than
he playfully remarked:
''Big policeman wants to sleep. Hip,
hip, hurrah for Mike!"
$50 wan, yez haste; fot tn div"
You're all right, all right, all right! %
yelled the parrot, and Michael Joseph
walked hurriedly up the street to lay for
burglars.
Mrs. Donnelly said never a word, but
proceeded down to the Police Court and
swore out writ Of replevin for the bird
He was taken to the City Prison and
locked up, and the next day appeared
blithe and gay in Judge Conlan's court,
while the rival owners sat aud glared at
each other. Martin produced several wit
nesses, among them Policeman COnboy
| and j. 81. Knarston, the printer, to prove
that the bird had summed itself daily in
| front of his place of business for the pre-
vious four months. Policeman Conboy
| was very positive.
'Your Honor" said he, "do you think
| ia come up here and testify that the bird
| belonged to this man il l hadn't heard him
| abuse ne shamefully for Jour months ?"
| His Honor evidently didn't, as at the
| conclusion Of the testimony he awarded
the custody of the bird to Mr.. Martin.
Hip, hip, hurrah!' yelled the liberated
| prisoner, as the triumphant Mr.. Martin
took him out of the courtroom.
| This manifestation of utter lack of ap-
| probation for the solcitude she had dis
played for him had depressing effect on
Mrs. D0nnelly and for several days she
abandoned hope. She recovered her de-
termination, however, Wednesday, held
consultation in the morning with her at
| torneys, Smith & Murphy, and in the
afternoon began suit in the Justice court
for the recovery of the bird, which she
values at $500. and asked $40 damages for
his detention. a writ of replevin was
issued. and in company with Deputy
Sheriff Crowley Mrs. Donnelly made
| descent on the saloon of Mr.. Martin. The
proprietor was absent, but she promptly
| identified the bird and Deputy Crowley i'm
medlately gathered him in.
! The same joy the parrot had manifested
| at his taking by Martin he gave vent to as
he was carried down the street in the COM
pany of Mrs. Donnelly. He sang gay and
happy songs and yelled 'HiD. hipp' to his
hearts content. He was duly installed in
the Sheriff's Office, and Mrs. Donnelly gave
full rein to her joy at his capture from the
enemy. She remained in his company sew
eral hours, and had been gone but short
while when Mr.. Martin put in an appear
ance. He was greatly excited at the loss
| of the parrot and wanted to know how he
could get him out. He was told he could
do so by furnishing bond in the sum of
S4OO. He started out at once TO procure it.
He was ready to present it for approval
yesterday. but the bird was having such a
good time that he thought he would let
him remain until this morning, at which
time he will secure his release and put
him in a place where he can jar the nerves
of Policeman Michael Joseph Conboy to
bis hearts content.
The parrot is beautiful one and pos
sessed of wonderful vocal powers. He is
plumed in widest reds and greens and
blues and has the most wicked leer in his
off eye imaginable. The contest that is
being waged for his possession is a very re-
markable one Both claimants are sure
that lie (or she) is his or her bird; that he
sings "Tara-ra" equally well on Minna
street and on KearDy; that he jokes the
passing policeman and shouts "Hip, hip.
hurrah!' on the slightest provocation.
There is only this fatal conflict in the de-
scription: Mrs. DonneIly calls him
Laura" Mr.. Martin. BILLY the Kid" as
clear a case of the lady or the tiger as was
ever made out.