The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-04-30
FOUR DAYS In JAIL
JOHN DAVIS GOT GAY OVER A TEN
CENT ROOSTER.
Wasn't x-County Atf0rney-"Behoid How
Hardly Coyers the Ground - Fined
S21. 20 on Account Of . Dime Bantam
How the Trouble all Came About -
Johns Mother Brought all the Rucas
on-Ten Cents or Ten Dollars, It Was the
Rooster John Wanted.

There were two niggers, a rooster and
fight. The rooster in question didn't
have the fight in question:, though he
was a. game bantam and Matched for
the ring. His being Matched for the
ring was the cause Of the fight John
Davis (ne has no connection with the
law firm of Davis & Blake was the
niger, the rooster was his and the
fight he divided up with Stewart Bell,
who in this case happened to be the in
nocent purchaser.
Whether John came into possession of
the Sainester in the traditional way
darkies have long been noted for de-
ponent saye.h not, but John owned the
rooster-till his mother sold il. There
was the rub. Johns mother no, wish
ing her son TO become contaminated
with the sordid Influences of pugilism,
sold to Stewart Bell. her color kin, this
rooster in an evil hour when the youth
full John was hid out in a crap game
whooping il up "cum seben, eleben."
Wien John returned and found the
d
stray red feather or two he lunged
twice and stood in the middle of the
sitting room asking what had become of
all that chicken. His mother, soiicitous
for her sons welfare and wishes, broke
into a big guffaw Of good humor and
chuckled TO him between the loud
punches OF broad laughter that Mistah
Stewart Bell wanted /; so bad that she
SOL it-soI il for 10 cents to him.
For a moment John stood silent,
black with rage. Then he shot out Of
the door in a murkey streak and stacked
Up in Stewart Bells yard. making
demand for the rooster. Stewart refused
gently, and John insisted There hung
the prop of his sporty heart in a home
made cage nigh up against the side OF
the barn out Of reach without a ladder.
the little red bantam He walked
around the cage, stepping high and
winking his other eye at John. He clut-
tered and cut-ca-dah-cutted and reared
his head in a stately manner to excite
johns pride. John got TO the point in
double quick and demanded uncondi-
tional surrender of the fighter from
Stewart and promised TO refund his lit
tie old 10 cents. Stewart refused money
and price and John applied the princi-
pie Of eminentn domain as a last resort
Stewart swatted him gently as a re-
hinder that he might expect hostiiities
whereupon John climbed the aforesaid
Stewards frame after a fashion that
moved the bantam to climb up on the
center bar and Justify cheer his erstwhile |
master. John whaled Stewart to a /!
finish, literally pounded him black-for |
that Decent rooster. Then an officer |
waited on John and yanked him into
Judge Walkers court, while the rooster !
lung or the wall. turning first one side |
IF his head and then the other, begging
or pass al Stewart. Officers and Of |
icers, witnesses, swearing and a con-
over 10-cent rooster. Saint |
Paul was onto his job when he said:
Behold how great a matter little fire |
but fire is not in t for trouble
With niggers and chickens.
john Davis got 81 fine. $50 cos. and
our days in Jail, over I0-cent rooster.
But the rooster was not TO blame that
le didn't cost more.