Post by hans1928 on Jan 12, 2010 16:21:19 GMT
The Lion man of Cradley Heath.
Much has been written about Lewis Frank Foley, general known as Lew. A man of great physical strength, but with a massive work capacity, he was s successful business man, with a penchant for publicity. He was a likeable rogue. He would never ever use his great strength to hurt anyone, and his generosity was well known. Like most men of his type he has a few conviction, but never for violence.
He lived at Fairview, Corn greaves road, Cradley Heath. With his family. In about July of 1975, I saw him in his vehicle, in High Street, outside the MEB. I passed his vehicle, and saw a young lion sitting on the back seat. There were no rule about Dangerous Animals then. Foley was the prime target of the legislation which followed.. I pointed out to Foley that the lion would grow, and he would have to cage it. He said, I am already erecting a cage for this one, and some others.” I also pointed out to him the dangers a lion could cause in a car. He promised to take the lion home. He did. I arranged a watching brief on the lion, which had now got a mate. Foley a construction engineer, has built massive cages at the rear of his home, and now employed a lion tamer, Leslie William Maiden. He did not have a clue about wild animals. Foley continued to show the animals, but we had no complaints.
At 12.50pm Tuesday November 1975, it was reported that Foley had the lion in his vehicle, in Corn greaves Road.. Together with others I saw the lion. It was attached to the towing bar, by a steel hawser, and an a chain around its neck. One of the side windows was slightly open, and the lion put its paw outside and was affected by the passing traffic. The lion would be able to touch any person passing. Foley came to the vehicle and tried to start it. It would not start. I suggested he put the lion back into its cage. This was done. Foley indicated that he was going to take the lion to Birmingham to see the sights. I was aware he had alerted the press.
At 2/40pm the same day, I returned to Corn greaves Road, and followed Foley and
his lion trainer, through to Upper High Street. Where I stopped him. The lion was in the back seat. I asked him where he was going, he replied, “To Birmingham to see the sights”. I told Foley he was under arrest, so was the trainer .” I asked a police officer, who accompanied me, to return the vehicle, to the home of Foley. The lion was placed back in its cage. Foley and his trainer, were taken to Old Hill Police Station, where they were charged, with breach of the peace at Common Law. His trainer Maiden was jointly charged.. Foley and Maiden were bailed. They appeared before Smethwick Magistrates on 2nd December. 1975. They pleaded “Not Guilty”. They were found guilty, and bound over toe keep the peace in the sum of £500. There were severe court costs.
Foley never took the lion’s out again. He was content to “show” them for a few pence. He appeared on television many times. The Lion Man of Cradley Heath has passed into history. A character, for which the Black Country was once famous
Much has been written about Lewis Frank Foley, general known as Lew. A man of great physical strength, but with a massive work capacity, he was s successful business man, with a penchant for publicity. He was a likeable rogue. He would never ever use his great strength to hurt anyone, and his generosity was well known. Like most men of his type he has a few conviction, but never for violence.
He lived at Fairview, Corn greaves road, Cradley Heath. With his family. In about July of 1975, I saw him in his vehicle, in High Street, outside the MEB. I passed his vehicle, and saw a young lion sitting on the back seat. There were no rule about Dangerous Animals then. Foley was the prime target of the legislation which followed.. I pointed out to Foley that the lion would grow, and he would have to cage it. He said, I am already erecting a cage for this one, and some others.” I also pointed out to him the dangers a lion could cause in a car. He promised to take the lion home. He did. I arranged a watching brief on the lion, which had now got a mate. Foley a construction engineer, has built massive cages at the rear of his home, and now employed a lion tamer, Leslie William Maiden. He did not have a clue about wild animals. Foley continued to show the animals, but we had no complaints.
At 12.50pm Tuesday November 1975, it was reported that Foley had the lion in his vehicle, in Corn greaves Road.. Together with others I saw the lion. It was attached to the towing bar, by a steel hawser, and an a chain around its neck. One of the side windows was slightly open, and the lion put its paw outside and was affected by the passing traffic. The lion would be able to touch any person passing. Foley came to the vehicle and tried to start it. It would not start. I suggested he put the lion back into its cage. This was done. Foley indicated that he was going to take the lion to Birmingham to see the sights. I was aware he had alerted the press.
At 2/40pm the same day, I returned to Corn greaves Road, and followed Foley and
his lion trainer, through to Upper High Street. Where I stopped him. The lion was in the back seat. I asked him where he was going, he replied, “To Birmingham to see the sights”. I told Foley he was under arrest, so was the trainer .” I asked a police officer, who accompanied me, to return the vehicle, to the home of Foley. The lion was placed back in its cage. Foley and his trainer, were taken to Old Hill Police Station, where they were charged, with breach of the peace at Common Law. His trainer Maiden was jointly charged.. Foley and Maiden were bailed. They appeared before Smethwick Magistrates on 2nd December. 1975. They pleaded “Not Guilty”. They were found guilty, and bound over toe keep the peace in the sum of £500. There were severe court costs.
Foley never took the lion’s out again. He was content to “show” them for a few pence. He appeared on television many times. The Lion Man of Cradley Heath has passed into history. A character, for which the Black Country was once famous