Los Angeles herald., 1907-04-05
SNAKE PETS PUT
NERVES ON EDGE
Threaten Arizona Jack with Tar and
Lynching and other UnPleas-
ant Surprises If He
Doesn't Move

Exciting scenes have been the rule
and peace and quiet the exceptlon on
Crocker street, between Fifth and Sew
enth streets, during the last two weeks
and all because Arizona JACK, King
of the snake rustlers, has decided to live
in that neighborhood and cherish few
pets, friends of his former days IN the
land of cactus and sagebrush.
When he first visited that district
Jack decided it was about the place he
wanted to live. At an Indignation meet
ing of the other residents held in that
neighborhood yesterday it was decided
1t was about the place he is not going
to live, and the result will probably
mean many hot times for the former
lord of the desert.
Jack is very fond of pets. He be-
lieves in always being surrounded by
pets and when he first mentioned this
to the landlady from whom he engaged
rooms at Sixth and Crocker streets, she
was delighted, feeling confident that a
man who was so kind hearted and
thought so much of his animal friends
would make a first class lodger.
During the conversation Jack, accord
ing to the landlady, neglected to state
what species of animal he preferred as
pets and feeling confident that the
meek-appearing Jack would have moth
ing worse than a couple of kittens and
perhaps a mild-mannered pug dog or
two the woman did not make any in
quiries.
When Jack appeared at the house
the following afternoon he was greeted
by the woman with winning smile,
but when a few minutes later van
drove up to the house and an excited
expressman entered and Informed Jack
that if he wanted them "dern things
he n tplKp them off the
wagon himself, her look turned to one
of establishment and she wondered what
manner of animals the man could have
chosen for pets.
She followed with her eyes when
Jack left the porch and watched him
in wonder as he unloaded long boxes
from the van. On top of each other he
piled them, all the time talking in the
gentlest tones to the occupants.
us it a whale you have?" queried the
woman from her place on the porch, as
an exceptionally long box was brought
to view.
mo, madam, snakes, just snakes, "
replied Jack, and with a Shrek of hor-
ror the woman lifted up her skirts and
fled.
Snakes Enter Dreams
Since that day the neighbors have
told weird and uncanny tales.
Snakes" said one woman why
bless your heart, there is nothing but
snakes. We're afraid to go to bed an6
we're afraid to get up We dream ol
snakes by night and think of snakes
by day. The grocery boy has quit
coming and the butcher tells us if ws
want meat we will have to go after il
ourselves in the future.
"Pets, he calls them, and he acts as
If he thought they were baby's play
things. To see that man dandle then
and fOndle them, why you wouldn't
think there was a bit of harm in them
but when one escaped last week you
should have seen him tear around anC
hunt for it,
eyer, sir. That snake was eight feet
long If it was an inch and was as bis
around as your leg 1t is one of thai
kind they call a black snake and I'm
told they can hypnOtize anyone they
see and hold them while they sting 'em
l won't let my children on the street
any more and none of the other neigh
bors will let theirs.
'Pve got my opinion of any man thai
win keep bunch of snakes for pets
and if he stays here we will make
things as lively for him as his snakes
have made them for us"
This woman seemed to voice the SEN
timents of the neighborhood. Several
others showed theirs by telephoning tc
the police station and demanding that
an officer be sent down to compel the
guilty man to remove his pets, and a
patrolman was instructed to inVesti-
gate and report on the matter today
II II Is found the snakes are a nuisance
ARIZONA Jack" will be compelled Ia
take them some other place.
About week ago one of the snakes
a black snake about three feet long
escaped from box and was killed a
short distance away by several boys
since the killing occurred the populace
In that district have been going about
with clubs, prepared to meet the in
truders at every turn.