The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-12-13
IT'S JUST AS EASY
No Trouble at All to Be a Lion
Tanner.
Explicit Directions Given in the
James Trial.
TELLS HER OWN STORY
Weeps on the Witness Stand
During Recital.
Begged i'm Vain to Be Let Out of
Cage.
TELLS HER OWN STORY


and shake it hard three times making
the lions retreat to the back Of the
cage. II
Then enter. Don't fail to forget this
| act.
i Then keep your eye steadily on the
lions, and keep them moving.
In driving them, drive them always
from the right.
Be quick and careful.
| These are the fundamental instruc-
| tons to be followed and learned by
| rote in matriculating as lion tanner
| as developed in the $4,000 damage
suit now pending in the United states
| circuit court and brought by Mrs.
Ethel James who qualified in the
profession in a period or thirty days.
The instructor in this instance who
was carefully coaching Mrs. James was
Jerry Barnes, who states that he
owned two of the three lions, and who
has had considerable experience in
dealing with wild animals.
The lions cost Jerry $500, accord
ing to bill of sale produced into
court. The express charges were
about $50 more. for shipping the ami
mails from New York to Texas. So the
entire cost of the two lions was $3.50.
Not so dear after all. just about the
price of good horses.
Late last evening just as court ad-
journed the case threatened to come
to an abrupt termination. A de-
murrer was sprung by the attorneys
for c. W. Parker. Hurd and Hurd OF
Abilene to dismiss the damage suit as
against G. w. Parker, Roy Dreamer,
Harley Tyler and the Parker Amuse-
ment company on the grounds that
there was an insufficiency of evidence
to connect these four defendants with
the case. -..,
This meant that the suit would be
thrown out of thescourt for Al. G..
Barnes, the remaining principal de-
PENDANT, according to the petition filed
is resident of the state of . New
Jersey and the case in that event
would go to the United States, circuit
court of that state. The court seemed
ready to sustain the demurrer and
said 81 don't think gentlemen that
as the case now stands that you have
case against Parker, Tyler or Crea-
mer." t-s-f
But finally Judge Pollock on repre-
sensations made by attorneys for the
plaintiff continued the case until this
morning. In the meantime the at
torneys for the plaintiff scurried
of dispositions and as court opened this
morning they contended that they
were prepared to show that all the de-
PENDANTS reside in this state. On this
the hearing continued and Judge
Pollock intimated that he would let
the case go to the jury.
That Mrs James made no cutlery
indicating fear while she was working
the lions until Just at the moment
she was struck down was the conten-
ct told her that she didn't do 1t
right" said Barnes as he testified con-
corning the accident and the incident
leading up to it. "She was letting the
that it didn't look right. She then
said that she wanted to go in again
and have me show her how to do 1t.
She got in the cage all right at the re-
hearsal. She did better this time. She
whipped the lions then up in the end
of the cage Then she stood there,
stepping back from them, with her
hands down at her side and kind of
looking over her shoulder. she was
talking to her husband and said some-
thing about his minding his own bust
ness" The accident then occurred he
stated.
Ibid she cry out before the lions
reached herr"
mot a word"
HAD she made any exclamation or
any demand upon you that she desired
to get out of the cage?
mo, SIR !
"she did not make any exclamation
until the lions reached herr
mo, SIR
Ownership of the Brutes.
Then the ownership of the lions was
none
have purchased them. his brother AL |
G. Barnes acting as his agent and pay |
Ing over the money to the importer |
and also making the preliminary ar
engagements for purchasing the beasts.
Later he sold the lions to AL. G.
Barnes wife, Dollie Barnes. because
he was not making a financial success.
The lions are now, one at Kansas City |
and the other at Pueblo, Col
AL G. Barnes testified concerning |
n ~
hat all through he had acted simply
as an agent for his brother because
ne could get the animals cheaper by
representing to the dealer that it was
his brother that wanted the lions than
f the brother had attempted by him
self to make the purchase. He also
lad advertised the lions for sale under
lis name because he was better
Known. Later his wife purchased
hem He reiterated the claim that
Mrs. James and her husband were in
he employ Of his brother and not
himself.
C. w. Parker was called back to the
tand today and asked to give the
that existed in the Parker
amusement company. He denied that
lie had any connection with such a
company or companies beyond leasing
.uuipment and that he could not give
he names of those composing the firm
II companies.
With sobs rackfng her frame Mrs.
ames related last evening the suffer-
ne that she sustained as the result of
icing torn by the lions. She leaned
ver on the back of the witness chair
nd not until several minutes had
lapsed could she recover herself suffi-
iently to continue with her testimony.
'he audience which was composed 4.
argely of men. squirmed uncomforta- {
,ly in their seats. and looked at each {
Their in a helpless sort of way. Final
y Mrs. James resumed her narrative.
She stated that her maiden name was
ethel Kirkpatrick. that she was first .
married TO a man by the name of !