Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-10-30
A BELOVED FELINE.
Fifteen Thousand Cats aud n few
Screech Owls offered for 1000
EFAnoa.

Screech owls offered for 1000
Frames.
From the Courier des Etats Unis.l
One Boucanon, a road laborer, ap,
peared before the Paris Police Court
charged with having stolen and skinned
cat belonging to one Madame Pas.
toureau. The case came before the
court in the shape of civil action, the
damages being laid at 1000 francs on
account of the exceptional goodness OF
this cat, which was by no means com.
mon cat, as the following testimony
shows:
The Plaintiff-He killed my cat. 1t
was she cat and an angolate cat, be-
cause it came from family of Angolas
and Persian cats. Laughter
The Judge-Why do you accuse Bou-
canonl ul
The Plaintiff is as plain as the
light of day; the skin was found in his
yard-that is to see the skin of Mira
The Defendant--What do you mean
by "Mirza?"
The Plaintiff--My cat, stupid, that
you murdered.
The Judge--You demand damages2
The Plaintiff with tears in her eyes -
One thousand francs. Poor animal l
shall never console myself for her loss.
The Defendant-A thousand francs
[ would give her fifteen thousand cats
for that sum, and few screech owls to
boot.
The first witness called was So
phia Linet, fourteen years old, apd 3
seamstress. She said Madame Pastou-
reau lost her cat. and she was asking
everywhere: "Did any one see my eatY
The Defendant-Like Mother Michel.
The Judge-Doa't interrupt.
The WitnesR-I said to her, Mother
Michel mo, 1 mean, Madame Pas
toureau, your cat is not lost, for every
body
The Defendant-So it is in the song
The Judge-You must not interrupt
The Defendant-I hope l may be al
lowed TO speak little. This woman has
annoyed me quite enough with her non
sense before all the gossips of the neigh
borhood. She is not too choice in her
language, assure you, but pretty strong
in the we'll, like Madame Angot.
Laughter.
The Judge-Try to hold your tongue
and let the witness 90 on.
The Witness-I said to Madame Pas
toureau: Your cat is not lost; have
seen it at N. Boucanon shat is to say
its skin"
The Judge-What color was the skin2
Witness-Black.
A second witness declared the skin
was yellow, and third that it was gray.
Widow Durand, thirty-seven years OF
age and mattress maker, sworn-For
my part | only saw the tail; it was black
and yellow, tinged with gray,
The PlaintiG-That's just it, that was
my cat. She was tricolor. Laughter.
Witness-The skin was turned inside
out, and you could only see little
piece of it with the tail.
Grignon, fifteen years old, and a
apprentice, sworn:
saw in Mr.. Boucanon's a rabbit skin
the color of a hare which made me
thing it was the skin of a cat. Laugh
teri,
PlaintifF--That was it: that was my
cat.
The Judge-At all events it appears
certain that you killed the cat.
The Defendant-The case is very sim
pie. wanted to enjoy myself, because
it was the birthday oimy aunt. J bought
a superb beefsteak, and put it on tie
table in my lodgings, on the ground
floor. went 10 get some vine, and
coming back, what did ! see but claw
constable that had come in through the
window.
The Judge-What constable7
The observation-disclosures me, but that |
is name, with great respect, that the !
workmen give to cats. Well, / saw q
cat that had just finished my beefstesk !
| cot mad aud gave him blow Of bot |
tle on the head that killed him.
The Plaintiff-Don't say him" it was
a she cat.
The Observation-Disclosures, l did not
look to see if that cat was one of your
own sex; was too mad. lGrest laugh
ter
The last witness, an inspector OF po'
lice, declared that upon the complaint
OF Madame Pastoureeu 3 search was
made at the residence Of BouesnoD, and
thot the body found there Was that OF 3
tom cat.
The oese VAS dismissed.