Donkey Boys 1904

Back in the simpler world before political correctness, Central Park was already making efforts at a standard. You didn't have to wonder what kind of title to give a Radar Easley. They were known simply as Donkey Boy 1 and Donkey Boy 2.

New York Times, July 13, 1898.

FIVE DONKEYS POISONED

They Were Pets in Central Park, and a Former Attendant Is Accused of the Crime.

Five of the pet donkeys in Central Park have been poisoned, it is alleged, by a discharged employe out of sheer spite, and many little boys and girls are well-nigh disconsolate as a result. Only one donkey, Dandy, is left, and he, poor creature, wears a most woebegone look. Of the five dead donkeys, several had been in the Park for twenty years or more, and had carried upon their backs many hundreds of children.

Among the attendants who looked after the donkeys and held the children who rode upon them was Robert Enis, a fifteen-year-old boy, who had been employed by John Lucas, the owner of the donkeys, about a year ago. Enis, it is said, became lazy and negligent, as well as surly and impertinent to the customers. Accordingly, about seven weeks ago he was discharged. At the time of his discharge he boldly declared, according to the statement of Richard Holmes, who acts as Superintendent of the donkey boys, that he would get square with Mr. Lucas, and would poison the donkeys.

Nothing was thought of the matter at the time, as no one believed for an instant that Enis would really carry out his threat. On Saturday, July 2, the donkey Jack took sick. He was usually the first donkey to trot out of the stable when it was opened in the morning, but on that day he would not go out, and acted as if he had no strength. He remained in the stable all day. The next day another donkey took sick, and in the course of a few days three others were taken down, all showing the same symptoms. They gradually became worse, going into convulsions, after which death resulted.

When the animals died in such agony Mr. Lucas reported the case to the police, and Capt. England assigned Detectives McGinty and Savage to work up the case. The detectives examined two of Mr. Lucas's donkey boys, who told them of Enis's threats to get even with Mr. Lucas and poison the donkeys. An autopsy was held on the carcass of one of the donkeys, and the veterinary surgeon found the liver and stomach in a highly inflamed condition, and said that the animal must have died from the effects of some strong poison, which he thought was arsenic. He will make a chemical analysis of the parts.

Enis was arrested yesterday on a warrant issued by Magistrate Simms, and was taken to Yorkville Police Court. He was confronted with the affidavits of the two boys who had given information to the detectives and with the veterinary surgeon's statement, but he stoutly denied having poisoned the donkeys. The Magistrate held him in $1,000 for examination, and remanded him to the care of the Gerry society.

Inasmuch as the donkeys were great pets with everybody, and were constantly being given cakes, peanuts, and fruit, it would have been an easy matter to put poison into the tidbits.

According to the statement of Mr. Holmes the remaining donkey misses the others very much. "He will look this way and that way, and then call them; and when no answer comes he will hang his head and look so sorrowful that it would almost make you cry to see him."