The Democratic Leader

WORRYING EACH OTHER.
The War Between "Buffalo Bill" and Dr. Carver.

Buffalo Bill, the famous scout, and Dr. Carver, the remarkable rifle shot, are both well known in this city, where, in the Black hills excitement days, both spent a good deal of time. Something of the trouble between them has been published lately, but a gentleman who lives at Willimantic, Conn., where the Carver outfit was broken up through "Buffalo Bill's" work, has sent to The Leader copies of the handbills, etc., which created the trouble, and the following article from the Journal, published in that city, which tells it all and will be interesting to many people here who are well acquainted with all the parties concerned. The Journal says.

…The Wild West show, which was attached and replevined at Norwich, at the instance of the Buffalo Bill combination, found Sheriff Osgood and another writ of attachment awaiting them, here. The sheriff also had papers for Dr. Carver on charges of libel. After considerable delay, and decidedly against the wishes of Buffalo Bill's New Haven attorneys, Sheriff Osgood allowed the show to be given as advertised. The attachment of the property was for $16,000 damages, claimed by the Buffalo Bill company for the circulation of certain handbills derogatory to their show and of a libellous character.

Dr. Carver was arrested on three suits, damages in each case being laid at $5,000, and for the same offense. Dr. Carver remained in the custody of the sheriff at the Brainard house, until Wednesday, when his brother-in-law Hugh Daley, of New Haven, came here and furnished the required bonds and he was released from custody

The McCaffertys, who are Texans, and among strangers, were not as fortunate in getting their property released, and on Monday dismissed their brass band and on Tuesday sent the Indians to Dakota and all but a few of the cowboys to Texas at an expense of about $2,000, thus practically disbanding the show. The live stock and other effects of the show were appraised yesterday, and will be sold by auction by the sheriff on order of the court. The points of the case in brief are, Dr. Carver and Cody were formerly partners in a Wild West show, but separated after one season, and ran separate shows, and have quarreled in one way and another ever since. Seven weeks ago the McCaffertys started out a Wild West show from St. Louis with Dr. Carver as the leading attraction, and under a salary. Upon reaching Elmira they found the town flooded with bills, distributed, it is said, by Buffalo Bill's agents denouncing their show as a fraud and imitation, and they found these bills at every place they showed thereafter, and in some towns they were distributed while this show was making their parade

At New Haven, Dr. Carver, at his own expense, on his own responsibility, and, as is claimed, without the knowledge of the McCaffertys, issued a hand bill which contained a violent and bitter attack on Buffalo Bill and his partner, Nate Salsbury. Carver claims to have done this in retaliation, and to be able to sustain all the allegations made therein. The outcome of the affair is not yet apparent

The design was evidently to break up the Carver Wild West show, and it has been accomplished. The McCaffertys seem just now to be the victims of a conspiracy, and the sympathy of the public here is wholly with them. They have demonstrated themselves to be gentlemen, have met their bills promptly, and it would not be strange if their turn to recover damages came later on. They seem to be level headed men and are taking events as they come, with patient equanimity. Capt. Jack Crawford "The Poet Scout" who was with the Wild West show here, when asked regarding the Carver and Buffalo Bill fight said to a Journal reporter, I am not interested any more than is Mr. McCafferty who never saw or heard of the objectionable hand bills until he arrived here on last Saturday. As for my name figuring in the Carver-Cody controversy it is against my protest and wishes, and I was informed by Mr. Carver before the handbills were printed that my name was not to be mentioned, and I protested vigorously against the publication of the matter which has tied up this outfit