The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-12-30
SHOW STRANDS.
Willie Sells Has Trouble in the
South.
Sells & Gray Circus Attached
by the Officers.
ANIMALS GO HUNGRY.
Mr.. Gray Arrested For Cruelty
to Animals.
Unpaid Salaries and Other OBJ
lNIMALS GO HUNGRY.
Unpaid Salaries and Other OBJ
legations Make Trouble.

legations Make Trouble.
VIM Sells, of Topeka, and J. H. Gray.
of Kentucky, has stranded in Louisiana
near New Orleans
The following is from the New Or
leans Picayune:
Following the dissolution of the part
nership between the supposed owners
of the Selis-Gray circus, which reached
Algiers Monday morning from Jeaner-
cite, La, and the failure of the pro-
prietorS of that show to take proper
care of their animals, Special Agent
James A. McQuaid, of the State Society
for the Prevention of Cruelty to Ami
mails, appeared before Recorder BarraS,
of the Algiers recorders court, and pre-
ferred an affidavit against William Sells
and ]. H. Gray, charging them with vio-
lating the city ordinance relative to
cruelty to animals. Warrants were i'm
mediately issued for their arrest, but UP
to a late hour last night they were not
apprehended, though the police authori-
ties know where they are residing
Agent McQuaid said that he filed the
affidavitS on information received from
E. D Barnum, William Saunders, who
had charge of the menagerie, and Rich
ard Curry, who stated that the lion,
jaguar and hyena, the only flesh eating
animals in the show, had not been fed
since IL O'Clock Monday, a short time
after the arrival of the circus in the
Fifth district. Mr.. McQuaid remarked
that after he had consulted with the
society's legal advisers he found that 1T
was the duty of MessrS. Sells and Gray
to feed the carnivOrOuS animals, for
they were not attached in the suit of
the Donaldson Lithograph company,
which was instituted in the civil district
court on Tuesday against Mrs. E. G.
Sells ct al
Yesterday Deputy Sheriff A. E. Au-
burtin served the following order on the
Southern Pacific and the Morgan's
Louisiana and Texas Railroad and
Steamship COMPANY:
please take notice that by virtue of
writ of attachment issued in the
above mentioned suit I have taken in
to my possession all the property of the
Sells and Gray United Shows, exclusive
of the elephant, camels. lions, and other
animals constituting the menagerie;
cages in which said animals are kept,
together with all other animals, prop
erty, appurtenances, cars, etc,
Immediately following the filing of
the suit, which is for $5,000 said to be
due the plaintiff on a printing BILL a
dispute arose between the circus own
ers and the sheriff to who should
feed the animals and other live stock.
The defendants maintained that it was
the sherif's duty to take care of the
animals, while on the other hand the
city official said he was only compelled
to feed the live stock implicated in the
suit. He said that none of the animals
in the menagerie were seized, therefore
the show proprietors must take care of
them.
Mr.. McQuaid settled all doubts by
telling the real owners of the menagerie
that they must feed their animals, and
if they did not do so pretty soon he
would be forced to take them to Jail.
The agent left the scene where the cir
Gus cars are lined out, and upon his
return he was informed by Mr.. Gray
that the f1eSh-eating animals had been
well provided with fresh meat. The
remainder of the live stock were fed
and watered to the agents entire Satis-
faction. but since Mr.. Gray and Mr..
Sells had neglected to feed them before,
the affidavits were preferred
half-starved lion paced up and down his
cage, yelling like a Comanche Indian
The king of beasts grow1ed until he was
heard for some distance away, and each
time he passed the opening leading into
his cage he paved in a desperate effort
to get out. The poor animal was
frenzied for something to eat and drink,
and when the keeper finally did push
the dripping cows meat in the cage he
rushed forward and devoured it with
ferocious relish. He was almost starved
and it did not take long for the lion to
eat the ten pounds of meat that had
been given him.
The jaguar and the hyena were also
fed but they did not become maddened
by the want of food. The bears, which
also belong to the mammalian Species
did not fare so badly, for they were led
on bread and vegetable matter solne
time before yesterday.
charged in the affidavits are not the
owners of the Sells-Gray United Shows,
but only managers The combination is f,
owned by their wives, and they have
been the acting managers"
Mr.. Gray said that the % per cent |
paid the employees of the show Monday |
in Algiers instead of their full salary |
was furnished by the Donaldson Litho- |
graphic company, of Newport. He said |
this firm is now in possession of the |
mems claims for salary due them, and |
that when the showmen received the % |
per cent they were forced to sign away |
their claims in favor of that company. |
Mr.. Gray said that the horses. &c in |
shows bunch of live stock were not the |
property of the circus, but he declined |
to say who they belonged to. He re- |
marked that when necessary he would |
but not before He refused to state |
their wherea bouts.
Mr. Gray declined to say if he would |
to buy in the shows property |
when it is offered for sale by the auc- |
tioneer.
A sale of the show was since ordered |
to take place on January T.
MRS SELLS STATEMENT.
Mrs. William Sells who is in Topeka,
said to a State Journal reporter: There |
is nothing of any moment in th@se |
stories. All shows have more or less |
trouble in settling their printing bills |
on the final settlements at the end of |
the year, for the reason that there is /
generally a difference in the checking, the /
paper received does not correspond with /
that shipped My husband is not in |
hiding. He is at the St Charles hotel, |
New Orleans. and will be here New |
Years day
Weather Indications I
Chicago, Dec 30.-Foreeast for Kan