The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-04-04

will no longer exhibit his powers to the
public gaze; "Bosco" will nolonger idly
tov with three-foot rattlesnakes and
caresslngly fondle them, for "Bosco,"
together with his enterprising manager,
II. w. Loeb, was last night arrested at
the instance of Mrs. w. B. Duggan,
agent for the Associated Charities. The
twain were arraigned before Alderman
Millar, on the charge of giving an in
decent performance, and were dis
charged after paying the costs, with
the proviso that they Immediately close
their show and leave the city.
The show was opened last week on
Lackawanna avenue. The performance
consisted in the spectacle of creature,
referred to by the lecturer as "Bosoo,"
groveling in pen full of snakes, and
every now and then biting the head off
a reptile and chewing the flesh.
Yesterday morning Mrs. Duggan was
visited by a certain lady, who brought
along with her her young son. The boy
had visited the "Bosco" show and came
home violently i'll as result.
MANAGER LOEB ARRESTED.
Last evening Mrs. Duggan swore out
a warrant for the arrest of Loeb and
Constable Thomas made the arrest and
brought him to Alderman Millar's
office. Attorney T. p. Duffy conducted
the prosecution and testimony was
given by A. B. Dunning member of
the Board of Associated Charities, and
Constable Malcolm Byers, of Alderman
Millar's court. Mr.. Dunning told how
he had visited the place, how men. wo-
4 oI,i
and the exhibition given was revolt.
ing and disgusting one. Constable By
ers declared that he had seen Loeb
striking "Bosco" with whip and
otherwise abusing him.
Loeb claimed that he was ignorant
of the fact that he was doing any
wrong by conducting the exhibition
and stated his Willingness to immedi-
ately leave the city. Mrs. Duggan then
asked the alderman to have "Bosco"
brought to the office, in order to see
whether ne was rational being or i'm
becile, and, as such, irresponsible for
his actions.
"Oh. he's no imbecile," interrupted
Loeb, with a lar h. hes a young
man in his senses. and bright one at
that"
Constable Thomas left the Office AMI
going to the place Of the exhibition
arrested the Australian snaKe-eater.
About ten minutes later a mob of
about two hundred people crowded into
Alderman Millar's Office and blocked
up the hall.
HAD To CARRY HIM.
"Eosco," according To the lecturer,
was supposed to be unable to walk,
talk or do anything but eat snakes,
smoke cigarettes and do other idiotic
things. Therefore of course "Bosco"
could not walk to the office and two
stalwart youths carried the reptile de-
vastator all the way from the exhibi-
tion place 20 the office. They carried
him upstairs and deposited him on Il
lounge, where the snake eater lay gaz"
ing around with an imbecile-lIke eX
preston.
Loeb. however, approached and on
sadly remarking '"Ghe game is up Bos-
CO." the latter individual rose, and
drawing back his hood revealed a keen,
boyish face, and remarked "Glad to
meet you, ladies and gentlemen"
On examination he then gave his
name as James Benson. and said he
was born in a small town near VIII
! liamspCrt. He furthermore declared
that he was a graduate of high
school and his general conversation in
fact showed that he was possessed Of
| considerable schooling, and was far
from tn grovelling, whining creature
under the lash of an iron taskmaster,
which one of the afternoon papers tried
to make him out.
In speaking OF his performance he
remarked The reople who saw the
show simply suffer from an optical il
! lusion. They saw me, or rather
thought they saw me, do what they
wanted to see and went away content.
/ certainly am not devoted to the oc-
cupation, but there are worse things.
| The snakes used have had their fangs
| extracted, but they occasionally bta
me, anyway" To substantiate which
statement "Bosco" raised his sleeve
and showed his wrist dotted with sev-
eral small scars.
MANAGERS STATEMENT.
Loeb said, concerning the exhibition
"At the performance / always say, AS
| Bosco, this creature eats nothing buS
snakes and banaras, and neither walks
nor talks. l didn't say ANYTHING
about what he does as James Benson.
This talk about my beating him makes
me laugh. / do hit him occasionally,
and he smashes me, just as often, but
| it is all in the show"
"Rosco" and his attendants depart
from the city, taking with them q
small-sized mint Of Scranton coin
which is partly the result of the graf
uitous advertising which has been CIV
| en- them.