The macabre post-mortem of a sideshow giant

The giant colored man, who was traveling as a sideshow attraction with McMahon's circus, had one of his legs crippled by the cars at Ellensburg and amputation resulted in his death. J. M. Wells, who is arranging to build an irrigation ditch in Kittitas county, gives the following account of the legal results and the disposition of the body: 'The coroner of the county was absent, and the duty of holding an inquest devolved upon a justice of the peace. A jury was regularly impaneled and a verdict rendered in accordance with the facts. Then the body was locked up and stowed away in the justice's office to await burial the following morning. During the night it occurred to the authorities that the body of the dead man had not been searched for personal effects. This oversight was remedied, and a search brought to light a revolver, $10 in money and a gold watch and chain. What to do with the property was the next question, and the justice was appealed to. He looked up the law but had not found a way out of the dilemma, when some one suggested that a charge of carrying concealed weapons be entered against the dead giant. This suggestion was followed, so Mr. Wells said, and the dead man was adjudged guilty, a fine of $10 and costs being imposed. The coin on the body satisfied the fine and the constable accepted the revolver for his costs, while the constable donned the watch and chain. The body was then interred, but the matter did not end there, as a young physician wanted the body, saying he would give $200 for it. A kindly and speculative resident agreed to furnish the cadaver and received $200 and a note for $50. Then he engaged two hoboes, and by paying them $25 each the body of the giant was delivered to the esculapian.'