The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-06-10
MARIA'S LOST BROOD
OIx CHICKENS GET WILL ES-
 BERRY INTO TROUBLE.
Ancient and Honorable Calling of the Chicken Purloiner Has Seriously Retrograded
 of Late.

The ancient and, noble calling of the chicken purloiner is ne 1ring the verge of disrepute. The responsible parties for this grievously deplorable state of affairs are two men who claim adherence to the police department of Montgomery and are designated on the roster as Detectives Payne and Rapport They have ruth- lessly thrcwn cold water upon the ways of they who prey when nights are dark and chickens sleepy and squakless. To the heartlessness of these is due the fact that Will Esberry Is pining away in a cell mourning the retrogression of his pet vocation and thinking unkind things about those who have been instrumental in bringing it about. Nor have these fint-hearted creatures stopped at this They have even gone so far. aided and abetted by Chief Gerald, as to deny him the usual 100 days vacation at the con- vict camp. Verify. Esberry is convinced, is the world going to the bad.
 The trouble was all due to the fact that Esberry was charmed by six chickens in the possession of Martha Alexander, a negro woman who lives on PeacocKs Tract, and Saturday night, adopted them. All might have gone we'll had not Esber- " tired of his six new charges and tried to dispose of them to Van Davis, white. for the munificent sum of 65 cents. Then came the aforesaid birds of prey, Detec- tives Rapport and Payne: next the night in durance vile, and finally the police court.
 Esberry. who is so black that he would be easily distinguishabie on the darkest night. avowed to Recorder Arlington that he was anything but guilty. Had 1t not been for the testimony of Maria Alex ander and Van Davis his story might have held. 3s
 .De chickings," averred Maria on the stand. twas locked up in de coop. Den erlong comes CT nigger in de night an steals dem from de coop. As If des yer raid on nah coop wasn't ernough he goes to wuk and steals nah staple dat I lock de coop wifi t4l
 The suawIing evidence was produced and Maria identified her lost brood.
 Are those all the chickens you lost?" inquired Chief Gerald.
 'Is dey all lost?" repeated Maria. "WelI ah guess dey is. when dey is all ah had"
 "How much are they worth a piece?" asked the Chief.
 "De chickings is wu'th 8 cents apiece" said Maria, "an' de staple-don forget de staple, Jedge-was wu'th 9 cents" And Maria looked as if she had been on the verge of taking refuge in the bankruptcy law.
 "Did you see me when I took dose yer chickenS! uemanueu rSDerry ol mdfia, and before she could reply he took refuge in vociferous avowal of his innocence The case. however. was clearly establish ed and Esberry would have had sojurn at the convict camp had it not been for Chief Gerald insisting that he should be punished further.
 '"These chicken sneaks and petty thieves" the Chief informed the court .sfairly revel in the luxuries of the convict camp. They come here lean and hungry. get 100 days, and get out there to recu- perate When they. get free they're fat and sassy. But as soon as they begin to grow lean again they hit for chicken coop It's a case af fatten up on chickens or, if they're caught. fatten upon the con vict camp. In fact, its fatten up all 'round."
 Seeing the force of the argument Ro- corder Arlington held Esberry in $3OO bond on charge of burglary and larceny.