Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-10-28
a ssAIoUs oUssrIoS.
Tbc Right oi Farmers 60 Protect
Themselves from vagrant Dogs.


Themselves from vagrant Dogs.
William B. jackson, son Of Squire
jackson of Hockessin, has been annoyed
during the past five years by animals,
chiefly dogs, which run about on his farm
through the crops, chasing his cattle and
otherwise annoying him until his patience
| ceased. Instead of shooting thu offending
animals during their depredations, he
| tried TO poison them. From time to time
some animal would be found in the vicin-
| ity, writhing in agony from the efft cts of
the poison. Some of the neighbors CON-
planned and he was yesterday week
| arraigned before Squire Vandegrift of
this city on the charge of cruelty TO ami
mails, preferred by the Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Walter
! H. Hayes. Esq, represented the society
and Benjamin Nields, Esq. the defendant.
| The charge Was proven and jackson WAS
fined 1876 and costs, which he promptly
paid. Some other suits will most I,roba-
bly, result, as jackson intends to prose
| cute several of those who were iiistru-
mental in causing his arrest, for violating
the game laws.
Editor Eue,y Euening: Allow mo TO en-
| large somewhat upon your report In yaater-
| days PAPER of q suit against my son, vii
| liam d. jackson, at Squire YandeRrlit's
| The report, though mainly correct, does
not give true picture of the case and, as
| It involves points Of essential importance
\ to all farming communities much desire
that an intelligent public shall be fully in
| formed.
The charge was preferred by John
| Creeden, whose hOtner now Lecps a
| licensed groggery III our village.
1 Hia dnu Darpruinp In file pylInuPe WIS
very sick, and In pain, but recovered and
| ls now, as far as appears, well dog and
since the entering Of the suit, Us WIS proven
before the magistrate, has been again chas-
ing Il Gulf belonging to William b. jackson
In his own pasture.
| Nevartllriess, as you say, the case was
1 fathered l,y the agent and attorney for the
/ Society for the Prevention OF Cruelty to
i Animals, and pressed to a conviction on
i presumptive evidence alone, regardless Of
| the rights Of tho defendant, with an in-
voteraoy (evidently predetermined UPON
| that never saw exceeded.
arraign not the Society for Prevention
| ofOruelty to Animals, With whose legitimate
| ends and purposes / fully accord, and with
| whom in all proper cases, desire to CO.
operate and have co-operated; (being salts
fed that the very respectable and iniluen-
tial ladies and gentlemen, who constitute
that society, mean only what is humane and
proper but do arraign their agents for
one-sided and improper efforts, contrary to
even-handed Justice and sound law, to die
tate to Justice of the peace, plainly and
completely under their control, eventuating
In the trampling upon the lawful rights ola
respectable citizen.
These are accusations not lightly made
and, that the farmers and others may know
how their rights are likely to be trampled
upon, l make a brief statement of the cir
cumstances of the case as know them.
1t was proven at the hearing before the
Justice and might have been much mort
largely proven, that for many months past
gangs Of hungry dogs ramble at nights
trespassing upon the farms and premises In
this vicinity, and especially upon the farm
of the defendant In this case, chasing his
horses and cattle In the pasture, and even
entering his barn yard, to his serious injury
and annoyance. He has several times
gunned for them at nights, without success
in abating the nuisance, as such guilty
dogs are very alert to scatter on the least
alarm. II was impossible to spot them in
the darkness or to ascertain their owners
and hold them responsible for the damage.
; Yet MIR. Hayes, the prosecuting attorney
took the absurd position that the defendant
could be "amply protected" through action
against the owners for damages.
To continue: After peculiarly aggravau-
ing occasions, when COWS and horses were
driven by the dogs through and upon the
wire fences surrounding the pasture, badly
J scoring them my son came to me, and
asked me what he should do to protect his
stock2 After mature reflection told hin
II there was no practicable way Of protect
ing his animals without the use of poisoT
to use 1t judiciously and carefully, leaving
1t only on his own premises, where nothinI
could get 1t except those that were tres
passing upon him, and that believed
both the common law and the law
i Of the State would uphold his rightto do so
l and believe SO STILL il they are rlghteousl,
, and judiciously administered. moreove
: told him TO use 1t openly and avowedly, jns
! as he would on potatoe bugs or rats, o
! against a gang Of ravenous wolves. He di,
: this, and all the petty fuss and feathers a
l the trial to prove that he deposited poisol
4 | was that much more needless cost and tim
, spent, for he did not deny it, but claimet
his right to do it, and claims it still, no
with cruel intent, but to protect his owl
: | animals from cruelty.
1 If the society above alluded to propose
s to encourage their agents to prosecute sucl
9 cases as this the laws OF the State bearing
| upon the subject will not long remain I'M
, amended upon the statutes, for / know
{ there is too much good sense In the com
! munity to allow their rights of self-pro
\ lection to be trampled upon. Much NOR
can be said, and Is needed fora full ventila
I tion of the case, but for the present, th
{ | much may suffice. JOHN q. JACKSON.
a HOGKEssIN, DEL, October 22d, 1886.