" Jumbo " has been in Chancery. Mr. Romer, acting
on behalf of certain Fellows of the Royal Zoological Society, applied to the High Court, Chancery Division, to restrain Mr. Barnum from removing the elephant. His argument was that the Council of the Society had no power to sell its animals, and if they had, in this instance they had improperly delegated their right, a quorum not having been present when the sale was authorised. It was shown, however, that the Council had always bought and sold animals, and that this particular sale, though originally in- formal, was subsequently ratified in a very fully-attended Council. The application was, therefore, dismissed. Mr. Romer's plea, if accepted, would have compelled the Society to reorganise itself, and was hardly arguable, in the presence of facts so well known aid of such long standing. The only obstacle, therefore, remaining to " Jumbo's" departure is " Jumbo " himself ; but that is a formidable one. He persists in refusing to enter his cage, no cruelty can be employed, and the effort to drag him into it with a cable will, in all probability, fail, more especially when Mr. Barnum's agents realise their personal responsibility, should he break out in the streets. It was admitted in the discussion before the Court that the reten- tion of the elephant involved nothing but expenditure. He is safe enough when not "must," and a house could be built which would hold him when in that condition. As an extra penny for seeing him would pay in a single year for any possible - house, we cannot think the Council has been well advised.
Previous page
