532 A HISTORY OF SHORT-HORN CATTLE. 



the United States, Messrs. B. B. Groom of Ken- 

 tucky and S. W. Jacobs of Iowa, had been 

 forced into liquidation, with heavy liabilities, 

 and these failures only proved the prelude 

 of many others to follow.* The fall sales in 

 America we-re everywhere disappointing. 



No Short-horns were imported during 1877, 

 but some sales were made for export to the 

 Japanese Government. 



A falling market. There were some private 

 sales during 1878 at high prices, but the gen- 

 eral result of the year's business was disastrous 

 to the speculative element. Numerous failures 

 in the American trade had precipitated gen- 

 eral liquidation. 



The assignment of the Grooms brought 178 

 head of Bates-bred Short-horns upon the mar- 

 ket at auction June 19 and 20, 1878, but sup- 

 port was furnished by numerous bidders, and a 

 general average of $405 was made upon the en- 

 tire lot. Leading sales were as follows: Kirk- 

 levington Duchess of Horton, bought for Bow 



* An incident of the trade that attracted widespread attention about this 

 period was a suit for damages brought by Hon. T. J. Megibben against E. 

 G. Bedford, both of Kentucky. The case grew out of the purchase by Mr. 

 Megibben of Mr. Bedford's half interest in the Duchess bull Duke of Wood- 

 land that had been dropped by the 4th Duchess of Oneida, purchased Jointly 

 by these gentlemen at the New York Mills sale for $25,000. The calf was 

 imperfect showing but one testicle and proved impotent; honce the suit. 

 The most eminent lawyera In Kentucky were engaged as counsel, including 1 

 the Hon. John G. Carlisle, W. C. P. Breckenridgo and others. Nearly all the 

 leading Kentucky breeders of Short-horns were summoned to give expert 

 testimony. The jury disagreed, and at a second trial the result was sti!, 

 ttwe flame. On the third hearing Mr. Megibben secured judgment for $9.000. 



