Idlewild Neighborhood Association

Idlewild Ranger, 1897

May 17, 2000

Courtesy of the Commercial Appeal:

March 1, 1897
ALL IS NOT serene out in pastoral, placid East Memphis. The municipality of Idlewild is in the throes of a great war. It all started when the Board of Aldermen conferred upon one W. R. Duke the power to enforce Idlewild's ordinance against letting cattle roam at large. Duke is not the favorite citizen of Idlewild, and when he began impounding his neighbor's cows he not only put the last nail in his political coffin but may be creating a ?“sure nuff?” box for himself.

March 2, 1897
CITIZENS of Idlewild met last night at the corner of Union and McLean to deal with the latest outrage committed by W. R. Duke, newly appointed ranger of Idlewild. There is a widespread belief among citizens that Duke plans to grow rich by impounding roaming cattle and collecting $5 fines therefrom. Yesterday he impounded a whole herd of milch cows belonging to G. W. Chambers, who runs a dairy in the adjoining municipality of Lennox. Chambers contends Duke was not only out of his jurisdiction, but went into his pasture and drove the cows out. After hearing Chambers the crowd turned toward Duke, who decided it was time to make a run for the East End streetcar. What followed is not clear, but around midnight his friends found Duke bound and gagged in his ?“cow pound.?”