HORRIBLE MUTILATION.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 137, 22 September 1870, Page 6

HORRIBLE MUTILATION.

The frequenters of music-halls and other places of entertainment, where the attractions are heightened by performances on the tight-rope or flying trapeze, which give every visitor the chance of witnessing a fatal accident, would have envied the inhabitants of Middletown, in Missouri, had they known the thrilling scene which occurred there on the morning of the 12th May. The " Middletown Banner " says : — " The little village was thrown into a fearful fever of excitement on that day by an awful catastrophe which occurred to the band lately attached to James Robinson and Co.'s Circus and Animal Show, and led by Professor M. C. Sexton. The management had determined to produce something novel in the way of a band chariot, and conceived the idea of mounting the band upon the colossal den of performing Numidian Lions. Although repeatedly warned by Professor Sexton that he deemed the cage insecure and dangerous in the extreme, the managers still compelled the band to sit upon it. As the driver endeavoured to take a turn in the streets, on the morning of the accident, the leaders became entagled and threw the entire team into confusion, and ended by starting off at a galop. The fore wheel of the cage came in contact with a large rock with such force as to cause the bracings and stanchions which supported the roof to give way, thereby precipitating the band into the awful pit below. For an instant the crowd were paralysed with fear, but for a moment only, and then arose such a shriek of agony as was never heard before. The groaus of terror from the poor victims who were being torn to pieces by the lions below were heartrending and sickening to the last degree. Some few of the bandsmen managed to climb over the sides of the cage, and then fell senseless to the ground, while the others were seen struggling with the wild beasts in a muss of hideous confusion. A hardware store which happened to stand opposite was invaded, and pitchforks, crowbars, and long bars of iron — in fact, every available weapon — was brought into requisition. The side doors of the cage were quickly torn from their fastening, and then a horrible sight was presented to view. Mingled with the brilliant uniform of the poor unfortunates lay legs and arms torn from their sockets and half devoured, while the savage brutes glared ferociously with their sickly, green-coloured eyes upon the crowd. At this moment Professor Charles White arrived and gave orders with regard to extricating the dead and wounded. Stationing men with forks and bars at every available point, he sprang fearlessly into the den and commenced raising the wounded, whom he passed to the people outside. He had removed the last wounded man, and was proceeding to gather up the remains of the lifeless, when the ' JMammoth lion," known bj the nam.^ of Old Nero, sprang, with a frightful roar, upon him, fastening his teeth and claws in his neck and shoulders and lacerating him in a horrible manner. Professor White made three efforts to shake the monster off, but without avail, and then gave orders to fire upon him. The contents of four of Colt's navys were immediately poured into the carcase of the lion, who fell dead with a savage howl, and the brave little man, notwithstanding the fearful manner in which he was wounded, never left the cage until every vestige of the dead was carefully gathered together and placed upon a sheet. It was found that three of the ten bandsmen were killed outright, and four others terribly lacerated. The names of the killed are August Schoer, Conrad Freeiz, and Charles Greiner. Coffins were procured, and an immediate burial determined upon, as the bodies were so torn as to be unrecognisable to their most intimate friends."

At the Sheriffs Court, Stafford, oa the 11th July, a jury sat to assess damages in an action brotight by Miss Mary Ann Marsh, against Frederick Dalton Rowlason, for a breach of promise. The plaintiff, a young lady of considerable personal attractions, was a barmaid at the Villa Cross Hotel, Handsworth, near Birmingham, and the defendant, a man of considerable wealth, was a frequent visitor there, and at length agreed to marry the plaintiff. Wheu the defendant returned from Australia, where he had, been on a pleasure trip, he called on the plaintiff and gave her some beef tea, on taking which she became unconscious, and he then effected her ruin. The next day she charged him with having taken advantage of her, and he replied, " Never mind what we have done ; we are going to be married." In July she was in her room, packing up her things, when he came into the room and gave her a glass of port wine. Again she became unconscious, and again he took advantage of her. She left her situation adth a view to marriage, but the defendant declined to fulfil his promise, but said if she would return his letters he would give her £1000, and provide handsomely for the child to which she afterwards gave birth. The jury awarded the plaintiff £1000 damages, the full amqunij claimed,