Daily Republican., 1886-11-02
make a test case by causing'.the arrest

make tPst case by causing lhe arrest
and trial of those engaged 10 it.
i furthermore wrote to the agent Of
your society whether or not they
would CO operate with the people here
in the prosecution OF such test case.
Your agent did not even favor me
with an answer. This was previous
to the prosecution of my son, and he
cannot have it to say that he was too
busy in studying the deserved sufferings
OF one worthless cur to attend TO the
cruel killing and manning of hundreds
OF most useful insectiverous birds.
! have other serious faults where
with to charge your agent and at
torney which l will now briefly state,
promising first that l considered my
sons cas- e such plain one, that the
idea of conviction under the law of
wilful cruelty to animals seemed i'm
possible; tor his action was to prevent
worthless animals, who were evident
trespassers, from Cruz ely injuring ami
mails of far more value peacefully feed
ing or lying in their own pasture.
Can you as a society support such a
prosecution?
My further charges against your off
cials for failure in impartiality are
these:
LIST. The original hearing of the
case was postponed at the request of
your attorney upon the plea that he
desired time TO investigate matters.
My son invited them to come into
the neighborhood and see and hear
him, as well as the accuser, for he had
nothing to hide.
Mr.. Vandegrift, your agent wss
recognized in the neigborhood shortly
before the final hearing, and probably
it was your attorney, Mr.. Hayes, that
was with him, but they did not show
themselves TO u.s.
Their dealings were with that order
of respec table citizens % alluded to
in the early part of this letter. How
much truth they received, or how
many ialsehoods they swallowed, /
have no means of knowing,
1t was unfair in them to have heard
the statements Of either party, without
hearing both.
No Spanish Inquisition ever con-
Quoted d case with more inveterate
determinat on to convict regardless of
justice.
/ heard two or three persons, who
attended the trial, say that there was
direct or indirect bribery at work
some where; but | make no such accu-
sation. can only say I do not under
stand it, for l, myself, being somewhat
accustomed to weigh evidence and deal
out justice, could no more have given
the judgment rendered by Squire Van
degrift than could have flown TO the
moon.
Even il my son was convicted of
cruelty to the dog, was there no pallia-
ton on account of his efforts TO protect
HE own property?
How could the Justice consistently
fine him to the full extent Of the lawe
Just as much as If he had tied horse
TO a stake and burned him to death at
a slow fire.
repeat, do not understand it, but
your agents are mainly responsible
for it.
Allow me to add that / have been
laboring against cruelty to animals in
the overlooking and overdriving of
them, which has too often occurred in
this place, where 80 much hauling is
done.
Also to inform you that two or three
horses lost their lives by oyerdriving
to and from the Elkton fair on recent
occasio on; also that the livery horses
are here frequently overdriven on Sun
days, all of which matters need atten-
ton. But the action Of your agents
have So strengthened the hands of the
transgressors in that line, that il seems
useless for me to move In the premises.
Iwould be glad if your society could
see the propriety of sending judicious
committee to meet and consult with
the respectable portion of this commu-
nifty as well as with those who have
conspired to prosecute my son.
Respectfully JOHN G. JACKSON.
p. S.-Since inditing the above, it
occurs as best that should relate some
other circumstances connected with
the trial that will illustrate the animus
Of the proceedings.
Near the close of the tlial, Justice
Vandegrift seemed somewhat moved
by the arguments and appeals made
by the defense, and stated that he
would take time for consideration and
withhold his judgment until the fol-
lowing day; but briet consultation in
the "back office" cured that little d.
version towards deliberative justice,
and he returned, stating that the mat
ter ,nIlst he settled Mt once
l Immediately stated, on behalf of
my son, that lie would ''certiorari'
the proceedings, and asked to give Sc
curity for the fine and costs until the
proceedings should be sustained by
the Superior Court.
Excellent security was at once Of
fered, and your agent or agents pro-
ceeded to draw-whate Not recog-
nizance or bond to pay if the proceed
ings were sustained; but note pay
able On demand, endorsed by the Sc
curity.
This trick did not work, but nothing
less would answer, and your attorney
threatened commitment to prison i'm
mediately il the note was not perfected
or payment made.
Under this ungentlemanly and ty-
ranical threat drew o check for my
son s use, with which he paid the fine
and costs under protest, and upon the
promise made by all three-the JUS
tice, your agent and attorney-that the
money wsuld be returned if the court
did not sustain the record.
relate these matters so as you can
judge of the tyranical methods that
prevailed.
Was it not enough that the defend
ant was adjudged, by the letter of the