The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-09-05
SNAKES IN COURT.
Results of Justice EIsinger's Levy
On a Variety show.

On variety snow.
Justice Elsinger had a case Of snakes
yesterday afternoon. The snakes were
neither In his head nor his stomach. how
ever. One OF the employees Of the combi-
nation serpent slight Of hand and living
picture attraction which has been hold
ing forth for some time at Broughton and
Abercorn streets came before Justice FL
singer yesterday afternoon and secured
writ, levying on the property Of the
show for wages due him. The levy was put
in the hands of Constable Ike Nathans to
execute.
Although the amount called for was
only s. the show people could not raise the
money and Nathans proceeded to levy on
the property Of the show. Nathans con-
cluded that the most valuable property in
sight was two cases of snakes and he
proceeded to transfer these to Justice Ell
singers office. There was some difference
among the proprietors of the show as to
who had employed Lamy. the man who
levied on the concern. Lamy claimed 20
have been employed by Charles Mobiles
who had sold out his interest to a"man
named Farris. Charles Davis. the other
proprietor. denied having employed Lamy.
Both Mobiles and Farris secured attor-
neys and appeared before Justice Elsing-
er, Mr.. William Pease for Mobiles and Mr..
w. NJ. Hayward for Farris. Justice FL
singer had gone over to his store across
the street and the lawyers were discuss
ing the case in an informal manner, when
an unlocked for event occurred. In trans-
porting the cases to the magistrates Of
nee some of the Stats had become loos-
ened and the snakes took advantage of
the opportunity to crawl out and investi-
gate their strange quarters. When seen
they were advancing across the floor from
the back ONCE. There was an immediate
stampede for the door and in about half
a second the snakes had the Office all to
themselves. Justice Elsinger returned
about this time and called on Constable
Nathans to recapture the snakes, but the
constable declared that snake catching
was outside the line Of his official duties
and refused to venture in the office
The advent of the snakes came near
causing several sudden deaths from heart
failure. Frank Quinley the ex-hreman,
who was in the office at the time, got so
excited that he could not articulate and
went around screeching like a steam en-
endeavoring to assist the lawyers in COM
ing TO conclusion and didn't see the
snakes until one of them erawled up be-
tween his legs. He has announced his in
tentlon Of Joining the total abstinence So
ciety at the next meeting
black coach whip coiled up under the
Judicial desk and made himself very much
at home. Word was sent to the showmen
70 send up snake catcher, and while wait
ing for one to come the crowd had lots of
FUN with unsuspecting people who were
unaware OF the presence of the snakes
Justice Elsinger keeps ice water on tap in
his Office and it is very popular beverag e
in that neighborhood Notwithstanding an
impression which exists to the contrary.
A darby would start in for drink. He usu-
ally reached the water cooler before his
eyes would fall on a snake. Then there
would be a screech and bound and the
darby would go out the door like a flash
OF black lightning. By the time the snake
charmer arrived all the snakes were back
in the box except the coachwhip. which
had gone over into q neighboring yard 1t
met a cat in the yard which had no fear
of snakes. Some Of the crowd declared
that the snake was charming the cat and
the others declared that the cat had
charmed the snake. Anyway the snake
charmer had no trouble in picking up
the snake and restoring II to the cage
He simply caught a firm hold on the
snake behind the neck, wound Il up in a
coil and put 1t back in the box Just as
easily as II 1t had been a kitten
Justice Elsinger told the show people to
take their snakes away with them as he
didn't care 10 have them in the office
overnight. As the proprietors of the show
were not able to reproduce the amount of
money necessary to settle the claim IL
was decided that Constable Nathans
should take charge of the front entrance
at night and receive the money until a suf-
ficient amount had been taken in to salts
fly the claim. 1t has been suggested that
in case the receipts are not sufficient that
Nathans might levy on the costume of the
bronze picture artist.