A Brief Note From 1895 About A Holy Frog

From the September 28, 1895 New York Times:

Rochester, N.Y.–James Foley of Wheatland is about to become the plaintiff in an unusually interesting case of law. The action is to be entitled James Foley vs. Philip C. Dickinson, and is to be for $5,000 damages for injuries to the plaintiff’s health, alleged to have been caused by drinking impure water purchased from the defendant.

The parties reside near each other on a farm, and Foley purchased his water supply from Dickinson for $12 per year. After using the water two years Foley experienced violent pains in his stomach. Medical aid was summoned and the doctors thought he had dyspepsia. 

Shortly afterward, while playing dominoes with his family one evening, a grunting sound was heard, which caused the children to jump and exclaim, ‘What’s that?’

Suddenly it dawned on Foley that he had swallowed some live thing while drinking the water. He came to the city and sought legal advice to-day, but no lawyer has been found yet who will take the case. Foley claims the animal inside him is a frog. He says that recently, while in church, the frog in his stomach sang and roared until it disturbed the meeting and he had to walk out of church.”

 

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