Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1886-03-08
a Dead Cat that Brought Fortuna.

The narrator is prominent in his profes.
sion here, and had attained a high position
in the East before seeking the West, as far
back as 1862. His gray hairs and long con-
tact with dusty propositions have not
quenched his love for joke, and his keen
eyes twnkled as merrily as those of his au-
ditors while he was unreeling his yarn.
81 learned my trade" he began, sin a
little New York village, but manifested no
particular aptness for the law, and barely
scratched through my examination. My
single was not honored with call for
many long weeks, and when did get one
it was from q member OF my own family.
One of my brothers, Frank, had a craze for
poultry, aud raised fancy breeds with great
success until an cid maid moved into the
adjoining house and her predatory cat be-
gan to dccimate his costly chicks at a fear
| ful rate. Frank demonstrated, but in vain,
| and finally, made desperate by the loss OF
nearly an entire Matching, he poisoned the
cat. The old vinegar faced female that
owned the Thomas feline raised fearful
row over her pets death, and as Frank Was
rather loud in congratulating himself on
getting rid Of the chicken destroyer, she
had little trouble in tracing the source OF
the cats fatal illness. There was only one
way to reach Frank in law TO her mind and
that was by criminal prosecution, and she
accordingly caused his arrest, on a charge Of
indictabe misdemcanor, brought under y
section Of the penal code similar to the one
in this State that provides that a person
found guilty of administering poiso"
to an animal, the property of another,
shall be punished by fine up to $500. or TO
imprisonment up TO six months, or both.
Well, the case looked black. The cat MAS
certainly an animal, and Frank had freely
admitted administering the fatal dose. No
body disputed the right Of the cats ownci
to prosecute, and | cupned the pages Of CIV
cry statute book in the town, hardly know.
ing what ! sought. Finally = parngrn pil
was found, setting forth that an animal 10
be property must have ~ valuation fixed by
law. farming to the ratings of animals in
| the section on the larceny Of live stock, |
| found that dogs were worth a dollar in law,
sheep aud pigs little more, and horses,
cows, etc, sufficient to make theft of them
| grand larceny, but not a word was said
about CATS An idea struck me, and braced
mp my miserable brother by telling him that
| could easily wipe out the foul accusation
that besmearcd his fair fame, and went into
court. The old girl didn't shed u tear, but
she swore very stoutly against Frank, and
then introduced all the people who had
| heard Frank S confession as witnesses. Then
| introduced my demurrer. Your honor,
| said this complaint charges the defendant
with poisoning an animal, the property OF
another, and | quoted the section on which
| the accusation was based. Cats, SIR [ went
on, have no value in law and therefore,
cannot be property. | move for dismissal
| on this ground
Frank was acquitted on the spot, and
one of the best lawyers in New York city,
who was present, was so struck by the plea
that lie offered me place in his Office. I'm
der his tuition | soon began to appreciate
my profession, and his help started me to
the front at rapid rate."-.iHa California.