384 A HISTORY OF HEREFORD CATTLE 



Nichols had been shown in 1879 as a purebred 

 three-year-old ; he came back in 1880 as a five-year- 

 old grade ! Mr. Graves claimed that he had entered 

 him in good faith in 1879 as a purebred, aged three 

 years, on the strength of a bill of sale given by 

 the breeder of the bullock, but that subsequent de- 

 velopments had disproved both age and breeding. 

 It was argued that it was manifestly absurd to 

 permit an animal to be shown one year as one thing 

 and be re-entered the following year as something 

 else, and he was accordingly protested, but the 

 board held Mr. Graves guiltless of intent to commit 

 fraud and accepted the entry for the grand sweep- 

 stakes of 1880, which, as above stated, he received. 

 Had he been an outstanding winner, little criticism 

 might have been passed, but candid opinion con- 

 ceded that the Hereford Conqueror, age considered, 

 as a more modern type and the declared two-year-old 

 champion of the Hall, was really entitled to the top 

 honor of the show, as against the 2,500-pound 

 Shorthorn. The Hereford indeed received the vote 

 of one of three judges, and his defeat in the face 

 of the protest that had been lodged against Nichols 

 served to fan the flame of partisanship which now 

 began to illumine the bovine horizon far and wide. 

 Fresh fuel fed the fire as a result of the two suc- 

 ceeding shows. 



In the killing contest of 1880 four of the six en- 

 tries were by Hereford bulls. One of these, Mossy 

 Coat, an 1,812-pound grade, dressed 69.29 per cent. 

 At this show John B. Sherman again took the 



