Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-02-12
DET3RONED.
PoUNDMAsTER o'NEILL TOLD TO STEP
DOWN AND OUT.
He Violates the Law, and Gets Bounced
from Ofice-The Mayor Unearths
a Genuine Surprise.

Uneasy rests the head that wears a
crown" Poundmaster O'Neill wore cor
onet yesterday. To-day he wears his old
black felt hat He was an autocrat for a
time, but now the very dogs in his pen
make faces at him with impunity. He is
no longer Poundmaster-he is only de-
cent private citizen, who is ready for any
honorable employment. 1t cannot be called
his downfall, great as was his power, for
there is no occupation that is not more hon
orable than that of dog catcher. But he is
out of Office, and he got out somewhat un-
tremendously. The Trustees pulled the
official props from beneath his feet-and
all on account of dog.
At Mondays session of the Trustees Mrs.
Fred Lindner lodged a complaint against
the Poundmaster and the matter was set
for hearing yesterday. The parties were
all present, and Mrs. Lindner repeated her
grievance, TO the effect that her valuable
setter dog was captured By the Pound
masters squad of boy deputies last Friday
afternoon, without having on its tag, and
when her boy went to redeem it the next
morning he found only its cold and lifeless
carcass ready to be placed in the seething
vat wherein eontraband CANNES are cooked
for various purposes. And this was less
. than twenty. hours after the time the
creature was ruthlessly torn from its home
by the heartless dog-catchers.
Mayor Gregory asked Poundmaster
ONeill what response he had to make to
the charge.
0'Neili replied meekly that be had
number of dogs on hand on Saturday, and
as he did not want to keep them over Sun
day he concluded to kill them all at once,
and Mrs. Lindner's dog was among the
number.
Mrs. Lindner said she wouldn't have
taken $50 for the dog. Besides, she had a
tag for it.
In reply to a question by Trustee Nc
Laughlln, O'Neill admitted that he knew
he was doing wrong in killing the dog so
soon, while the law required him to keep
impounded animals thirty-six hours. But,
he said, it was 'give-away" dog-that is,
could see no harm ia killing it. He did
not know it was a valuable dog.
The Mayor said the question was, what
to do with The Poundmaster.
Trustee Mclaughlin said that, as the
officer had taken the law into his own
hand. and knowingly violated it, he moved
that the culprit be dismissed from Office
and fined $50.
Trustee Wolf said be was willing to dis
miss O'Neill, or fine him, but thought that
either would be punishment enough.
Trustee aughlin-"Well, make some
motion yourself, Them
Trustee Wolff move he be dismissed"
Mayor Gregory-"Of course. the Pound
master has violated the law. But to i'm
pose fine on him would not compensate
the owner of the deg for its loss. If Mr..
O'Neill were disposed to make the matter
satisfactory with her, the Board could still
deal with him for his infraction of the law.
The Board could not award Mrs. Lindner
damages, but the Poundmaster should first
settle with her for the value of the dog"
Trustee Wolff don't think that would
be the proper course to pursue. There has
been violation Of the law, and the Board
has just cause Of complaint against the
Poundmaster. For one, l would be con-
tent to either hne or dismiss him from the
Office, but l think either would do"
Lawyer Estabrook said, on behalf of Mrs.
Linduer, that if O'Neil would settle with
her foi me loss of the dog, she would have
no further cause for complaint. She con
sidered the dog worth 500.
O'Neill-"A hundred dollarsw Why, l
can supply plenty of better ones for s.
apiece"
Trustee Mclaughlin said he would with
draw that part of his motion imposing q
fine on O'Neill, and simply move to dis
miss him.
Trustee WolE"I'n stay with you on
that"
Mayor Gregory-"It is moved and Sec
onded that the Office of Poundmaster be
declared vacant. II is so ordered"
And thus was cut short the brilliant o. fl
cial career of the town dog catcher.
When tbs complainant left the Trustees
room the x-Poundmaster at once followed,
and an interview between them ensued in
the hallway. Presumably the lady's SYM
pathies were aroused by the pleadings of
the dethroned official, for she shortly re-
urned and talked earnestly to Trustee
Wolf for several minutes.
After the Board adjourned the latter said
to aREcoRD- UNION reporter that he thought
the Poundmaster had been taught pretty
severe lesson, and now had better appre.
citation of his duties and powers. He did
not know but that under the circumstance:
he might see his way clear to reinstate him
on his giving promise to be more careful
in the future. He Wolf realized the diff
Guilty of finding suitable persons to perform
the disagreeable duties of the Office.
So it is not improbable, after ALL thu
Board may restore Mr.. O'Neill to Office.