The "Floating Palace" visited Catanan, and while there a scheme was entered into by a brother of J---- to procure the indictment of Ben for various offenses, and particularly for selling liquor without a license. Ben happened to meet this man J---- on the street one day, and he chased him through the town, capturing him finally in the mayor's office. Had it not been for the interference of that official, Hogan would have taken satisfaction out of Mr. J----'s hide. As it was, he compelled him to withdraw the charge, and pay the cost of the proceeding. Determined upon having his revenge, Ben succeeded in getting a number of the leading lawyers and some of the jurymen on board the "Floating Palace," and while these worthies were enjoying themselves in the saloon with the girls, he ordered the ropes to be cut, and the boat floated down the stream. Before this was discovered by the jolly company inside, the "Palace" had drifted sixty miles from Catanan. The lawyers and jurymen were in a high state of resentment. The court was to convene the next morning, and it would be very difficult for them to offer any plausible excuse for their absence. Ben professed to be equally enraged at what had happened, and threatened to do all sorts of things with the fellow who had cut the ropes--when he found out who that fellow was. The victims pleaded with him to return to the town, but Ben showed them that it would be utterly impossible to do so that night. There was no alternative, of course, but to remain on board the "Palace" all night and take the train back the next day. This the legal gentlemen did, but it is doubtful whether they revealed to anybody the real cause of their absence from court. The "Floating Palace" continued its course until it reached Pittsburgh. Before entering that city Ben dispensed with all his people except Kitty, Lizzie Topley, and Steve Kinney--the latter of whom was his bar-tender. A landing was made above Shapsbury Bridge, and there the "Floating Palace" was anchored. Ben's success up to this time had been so encouraging that he had determined to follow out the idea on a larger scale. It was his intention, as soon as he could complete the necessary arrangements, to go down the Mississippi river with two additional boats, modeled after the "Floating Palace." These were to be stocked with women and wine, and some new features were also to be added, such as a museum and dollar store. The project was a big one, and would undoubtedly have been put into execution, but for an unforeseen accident.