
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, April 19, 1990                   TAG: 9004190717
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B6   EDITION: EVENING 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: ACCOMAC                                LENGTH: Short

MISTY'S OWNER WINS FIGHT WITH MUSEUM

The stuffed skin of Misty of Chincoteague and one of the famous pony's offspring will not be returned to a museum, a Virginia judge has ruled.

Accomack County General District Judge Robert Phillips on Wednesday ruled that Jeanette Beebe had the right to move Misty and Stormy, a 28-year-old offspring of Misty. Phillips said he based his decision on the fact that the owner of the tourist attraction where they were kept, Ruth Calvo, did not have a valid lease with Beebe, who owns the animals.

Misty and Stormy were taken from the Misty Museum and Pony Farm and taken to a horse farm in Pennsylvania last month.

Jon Poulson, Beebe's attorney, said there were some concerns over the care given the ponies.

Calvo said the ponies were given the best care possible.

Beebe's son, Billy, said Misty would be "refurbished" and put on display, probably back in Chincoteague, where Beebe lives.

Misty was made famous in 1947 by the publication of Marguerite Henry's children's tale "Misty of Chincoteague." The book started a series of children's tales about the herd of wild ponies that live on the island in the Atlantic Ocean off Virginia's Eastern Shore. - Associated Press

by CNB