Amador ledger., 1901-07-19
A Disgusting Show,

Last Tuesday evening travelling
tfakir made his appearance in jackson,
driving one horse wagon in which
was standing little girl, bare headed,
while her hands and arms were covered
with Shiny, creeping, crawling snakes.
The man was proclaiming that this
girl was only six years old, and that it
was her delight to handle these snakes;
that she loved her work and preferred
the snakes as playthings to anything
else. He announced that the child and
her snakes would give performance
at the north end of Main street, where
they had put up small tent. When
the crowd assembled at this tent they
found that besides the snake perform
ance they were expected to contribute
to several side issues, one of which was
q dollar each to have Queen May the
''Romany Gypsy" tell their fortunes.
Another game was throwing balls into
hole ina barrel at three throws for a
nickle. Word was carried to the
sheriff and he went to the show
ground and found the game in full
blast. He at once placed the show
man, who gives his name US j. Q. Nc
Oregon, under arrest, and caused him
to pay license. McGregor made a
great howl about tho treatment &C.
corded him. If there is a law to pro-
tect children in such cases, i should be
enforced, for more revolving sight
cannot be imagined than to see the
child place the head of one Of those
snakes in her mouth.
The man attempted to show Tuesday
night, when he was eorralled by the
sheriff, for allowing the child to take
part in the performance. It seems the
tones of law had been consulted in the
interval, and among the new provisions
was found one that seemed TO fit this
particular case. McGregor was taken
before the Justice, and bonds fixed at
$50. To the surprise of the officers, he
promptly deposited the cash guarantee
for his appearance, employed law yer,
and demanded jury trial.
The following night he prepared to
start business again; this time he pro-
posed to 60 through with the snake
performance himself. The sheriff says
the child was with him, and this was
sufficient for the arm of the law to
again reach out for the stranger. :"
II was eight O'Clock; a Justices court
was no further from the scene of ar
rest than the county Jail, and the law
requires that person accused OF crime
be taken before a magistrate without
unnecessary delay. The man found his
way to the county jail, and did not
reach the justice before the following
morning. He thereupon- withdrew his
former cash bail, concluding that he
might just as we'll be jailed for the
double charge as for single one. His
snakes are enjoying the hospitality of
the Jail too. A case OF snakes in the
boots is not an uncommon occurrence
within the four walls of jail. But the
genuine article-a fully developed rep
tile menagerie-witht the trainer him
self is now quartered upon the Amador
public. The fortune teller and child,
separated from their main support, are
walking the streets, waiting for the out
come OF this legal tilt. A record of
three arrests of the same person within
48 hours is phenomenal. No wonder
Jackson has q reputation on the out
side of being a lively town-judged
from the standpoint of the number of
arrests. We reserve comment until
after the trial, which is set for Mon
day morning. While some will con-
tend that all this is done to maintain
the majesty of law, there are not want
ing those who place totally different
construction upon it; and thai too
without in any way upholding these
people in their peculiar and repulsive
business.