Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-09-14
ANIMALS At TACHED,
SIDE SHOW TO THE CIRCUS AND
RESULTS THEREOF
PLAINTIFFS FROM NEW KENT.
Co1ored Visitors Have n Grievance,
Enter Suit and secure a Temper
nry Hold on Lions, Tigers, Hyena-,
and Pe1icnns, But Surrender.

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Sheriff John e. Epps, Of this city, is
feeling a little better. The cool air and
the departure of the Robinson circus COM
bine to restore him to life and hope and
hilarity. Such is official life. To-day he
is living in the most charming surround
ings; yesterday he had the dismal pros
pect of the custody of laughing hyenas,
lachrymose bears and belligerent lions to
say nothing of snakes and monkeys and
bugs; and he had done nothing to get
that way, either It all threatened him
in the legitimate way of business, and
under due form of law
If John and Eliza Bowman, both col
ored of New Kent county, could have
furnished bond, Mr.. Epps would have
found himself in charge OF all these liv
ing, eating, crawling, leaping. and deris-.
i've propositions; and he and the county
might have gone into bankruptcy together
on a variegated food account.
An Odd Collection.
The alta chment on the circus was ac-
tul1y drawn up, presented and served It
covered:
One cage of bears with six black horses
attached (Bears attached to horses, horses
attached to bears by traces with no traces
of affection and the entire outfit attached
to Henrico county,.
Cage OF tigers-in view of recent local
events and official tribulations the very
thought of them making Mr.. Epps shiver
with four cream-colored horses
Cage OF lions and hyenas and four
cream-colored horses.
Cage of white pelicans and four cream
colored horses.
Cage of lions and six white horses.
Sheriff Epps went and levied, as in
duty bound, and then stood back in de-
do with these things-1ions and tigers,
pel:cans and hyenas. With the obstrep-
erous white citizen and the colored broth
er, he knows how to deal, come in what
ever shape they may; but the beasts and
birds of the tropics caused him a season
of guessing.
The Bond Solved It.
Lawyer r. Carter Scott had been sum-
moned by telephone, and went to the
rescue. It was an embarrassing position.
Circus people did not know what to do
without their hyenas, birds, and mon
keys, and Sheriff Epps did not know
what to do with them. Mr.. Scott thought
a moment and suggested that the plain
tiffs be required to give bond.
The plaintiffs were John Bowman and
wife, both colored, of New Kent county
They came in a wagon to see the show
and their wagon was a Ninth and Broad
streets There one of the teams of circus
oxen encountered them. The oxen went
calmly on, leaving the Bowmans to con-
template g wreck and nurse some brus-
es. They contemplated and nursed and
then went forth and engaged a lawyer,
and the lawyer secured the attachment.
So far the Bowmans were triumphant.
They had the prospect Of large pecun1ary
returns, or in default thereof of going
back to New Kent with a string of lions,
tigers. hyenas, pelicans. and cre,.m and
white horses. They were represented by
Messrs. H. a. Atkinson and L. o. Wen
denburg, and they asked $1,000 damages
the damaged wife. the suit being brought
in the Law and Equity Court.
Called on for bond in double the amount
sued for to indemnify the defendants for
damages, the Bowrnans were given pause.
Strongly as they hankered for wild and
strange animals and evensmor novel doll
lars in large denomina tons, they did not
know whore they could go out in Rich
mond at midnight and secure S., COO
bond. Therefore the show went on.
Sent ON to Louisa.
The lions and tigers, the pelicans and
the horses. all unconscious Of the Inn
pending fate muncheds and chewed and
swallowed and chattered according to-
their habits OF life. After midnight they
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