The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-03-20
BIRD OF A SUIT.
A Green Parrot the Principal in a
Court TRIAL

A Clark street jury in Chicago de-
cided in favor Of alderman Honore
Palmer who in Justice Richardson S
court had sued Nathan Slotkin, man
ager of the Atlantic and Pacific Bird
company, for sac, which he declared
had been paid for a parrot that would
not talk, says the Chicago Tribune.
1t was green parrot, emblematical
of the Irish holiday, and it had been
brought in Alderman Palmer's auto
mobile from the Lincoln park aviary,
where for the last week it had been
under the tutelage of Cy DeVry.
Polly. in his brass cage, on the bar
of justice, unknewingly posed as 'ex-
Mr.. Devry. head animal keeper in
Lincoln park, was the expert wit
ness.
Honore Palmer and Walter W.
Keith were on the witness stand. A
poison mystery was limited at, and the
tragedy of q box of monkeys and of
poodle dog was brought to light by
witnesses. for Mr.. Palmer.
With a red automobile awaiting out
side the justice shop, with the brass
cage. two Swedish maids from the
Palmer residence, the bird man, at
torneys and photographers before the
bar of justice, the case was opened
at 2:15 D. m. Mr.. Palmer, blase, in
a pair of low shoes and silk sox, and
reading a newspaper, was seated on
the witness stand. He was the target
for the firing line of screw gun cam
eras which had been focused on him
and the green bird
There was a short delay while the
constables went out into the highways
and the byways to recruit a jury Ed
ward Warren Everett brother OF
Justice Everett, and of the firm of
dore Plotke the two attorneys in the
case, went through their preliminary
diminishing. Finally six men tried
and true" were led in by the con-
stable.
Instructing the jurors. who evil
IDENTIFY were astonished at the formid-
able. array of cameras, Mr. Everett
said:
torious of cases. We have in contro-
versy one green parrot one Slotkin,
bird fancier; and an alderman from
the North shore; Do any of you
/ ssNo relation whatever spoke up
one of the veniremen promptly mo
4 tice his color? See any shamrock on
me -
During this inquiry exhibit A, mag
! lining he was a vampire bat, hung up
/ his heels, croaked dismally, and cooked
his eyes toward the judge and jury, but
/ said nothing. Wondering what the COM
motion was about, he crunched his
/ pumpkin seeds in silence, emitting from
| time to time subtle squawk to 1ndl-
cate to whom it might concern that he
was still the object Of the controversy
You have here arguing before you, =
Mr.. Plotke. counsel for the bird man.
! said to the jury, IAN attorney for a
large corporation My client, Mr. Slot
/ kin. is a poor merchant in Fifth avenue
"Poor2v interrupted Mr.. Everett, and
! at the price at which he sells his birds?'
Mr. Keith, 1904 Prairie avenue, and a
famous polo player, next took the stand
He said he had accompanied MI. Palmer
to the bird store. not as a bird expert,
but simply as precaution.
Don't you admit. said Mr., Plotke in
/ the cross examination, that the ora
/ can say Hello, paper
..That. he can say Pretty Polly?'"
Fiat F6. s he can say PONY wants
cracker2' -
'snSo. SIR
Hello. Polly. pretty Polly: Polly
/ wants a cracker came in the sOfteSt
accents from the brass cage. 1t was
I damaging testimony, but was ruled out
of court, as the bird was merely an ex-
hibit-not witness.
1t was admitted, however, that the
bird could say Poor or Pretty Polly
/ CT could not tell which," said Mr..
! Palmer), and that he could say Good
morning after fashion evidently not
acceptable to north shore society.
When Annie Larson, in an atmos-
phere of musk and Jockey club, was
sworn in as a witness the parrot for the
first time seemed to take an interest IN
| the proceedings. Annie was the maid
/ at the Palmer residence who had fed the
bird and had the care of it.
Hello, Polly, hello" crooned the bird.
81 tried to teach it to say pretty
boy" the witness testified.
but did you ever hear it speak
seventy-five words ?" asked Mr.. Ev-
| eFett.
sFWah!'' came from the parrot, as
if such an hypothesis was ridiculous
sOnce in WHILE" Miss Larson said.
az would give it pieces of apple, and
try to teach it to say Good morning
and How do you do?'"
''Do you know how to teach poll
| parrots p" asked the defense. when
was the last time you communicated
| with a parrot2"
Five or six years ago. Miss Lar
son answered, as confused, she yielded
| her place to Bessie Oleson-
Then came the suggestion of a dark,
dank poison mystery.
Are you the person. asked At
| torney Plotke, pointing an accusing
finger at the girl, ARE you the person