The Sentinel. [volume] (Trenton, N.J.) 1880-1882, 1882-02-11
Prosecuting Animals


In the good old times from the tbi-.
teenth to the sixteenth centuries ami
mails we're duly prosecuted in court for
injuries done by them to life or limb or
to private property, and numerous
cases are recorded in France of hogs.
bulls, horses and other auadrupeds
being convicted and punished, cspitallv.
by hanging. burning or in other cruel
fashions. In Sardinia cattle taken in
the act of damaging property could be
lawfully slain, but asses, possibly as
being stupid and less accountable, were
punished for trespass, first By loss of
one ear. On second conviction BIZ the
loss OF the other and on the third by
forfeiture to the crown. But when
physical seizure of the offending crea-
lures was impossible the eccle siastical
tribunals took cognizance of the mat
ter, and the plague of rats, locusts,
caserplilars. or what not, was duly cited
to trial. More fortunate than human
offenders, they were allowed eminent
counsel and wide latitude in their de-
tense. One of the most famous law
yers of france made his first great hit
IN the defense of certain dirty ami
mails IN the form of rats, of grayish
color. living in holes, in the diocese of
Antun. his clients did not, OF course.
appear on the stated day, and he pleaded
defective service, and that as all the
rats IN the diocese were interested no
tice should be given to them in all the
parishes. The priests having been
duly instructed, and the rats still re-
naming IN contempt, their counsel oh.
famed postponement on the ground
that more tina was needed to make
their preparations for a journey en-
masse, and when the time was up he
came into court protesting the good
faith OF his clients and their anxiety to
appear, but demanding for them a safe
conduct and the putting of all the
plalntltf's cats under heavy bonds not
to molest any rat until the case had
been decided. as the plaintiffs declined
to enter into the bond the rats got off.
1t would be curious to know what ever
came OF the famous lawsuit between the
parish ofSt. Julien and the beetles, which
began in 1445 and had not been endde
IN 14of, when the records unhappily
terminate. The proceedings ended
with compromise by which the inhabi-
tants gave the beetles in perpetuity a
certain portion of the parish for their
sole use and benefit, The beetles
demurred to this, bu. the demurrer was
overruled and. the courts assessors hav-
ing inspected the land ard found it
everything that beetle could ask. the
title was made duly ont and signed and
sealed and the beetles would have had
TO retire to it or place themselves in
fragrant contempt had it not been dis
covered that there had been a quarry
on the land. and, though it was e1-
hausted and no longer worked, that
there was right of way over the soil
which if exercised would incommode
The new proprietors. The beetles
promptly made the point, and the trial
was begun over again at the beginning.
One reason perhaps why the courts
were so scrupulous was to be found in
the fact that the plaintiffs had to show
clean 1.-THE bill before beginning the
suit, and during It's continual nee numer-
Gus imposing and expensive ceremonies
were performed.