The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-12-05
PUSSY CAT IN COURT.
But the Other Side Said 1t
Was "rootsey" and
Theirs.
KNoTTY QuE>TloN FOR DAVIS.
de Concludes To Let the Claim
ants Fight 1t Out In A Civil
Suit-1hey May Take His
Advice.

A quarrel as to the ownership of big
black cat with pale stripes of yellow,
suggestive of the tiger. monopolized the
best part of the morning in Police Justice
Davis court.
The court room was filled with re-
spectacle assemblage of men and women,
some of the latter finely dressed.
"Pu-sy'' or "Tootsey." whatever its
name, for that is yet matter of dispute.
with wide blue ribbon about its neck.
sat serenely in the lap of Mrs. Charles
Liendecker, the wife Of prosperous
German, who lives at No. 957 Summit
avenue.
Mrs. Olof Anton Anderson. of
No 70 Lincoln street. who also
claimed ownership of the cat. was sur
rounded by bevy of ladies. Counsellor
Russ represented the Liendeckers ana
Freeholder. School Director and Lawyer
Charles Pfingsten appeared as counsel
for the Andersons.
Perhaps Police Justice Davis recalled
Solomun's wisdom, and wished he had
SoIomon's sword close at hand.
The Andersons accused Mrs. Herr
mann, a waslerwoman. Of stealing the
cat for the Liendeckers. The cat had
been given to one OF Mrs. Ander-
sous daughters by a family named
Kavanagh, who lived in New York. Mr..
Anderson himself brought it over in
cage, and q boy named Browning met
him on the way and asked him if it was
tiger. The boy identified the cat in
court.
The Liendeckers claim they had owned
the cat six years and half. Mr.. Lien
decker went to Europe early in November
last, aud q few days after he sail ed
..Tootsey' took strole and didn't re-
turn.
KNEW IT WAS ''TooTsEY,"
There was great sorrow in the Lien
decker household. Mrs. Hermann. the
Liendeckers' washerwoman, about four
weeks after "Tootsey" disappeared espied
cat she was sure was 'Tootsey." Tne
cat answered the call and was
taken home to the overjoped Liendecker
household The LiendecEers knew, it
was their ''Tootsey," because it had
healed toy bullet wound in its neck. So
it had Some bad boys did IL.
But the Andersons knew 1t was
"Pussy," because 1t had once stepped in
to some paint aud the oil had burned the
end of "Pussy's" tail and the upper por-
tion of its hind legs. Sure enough
PUSSY" was bald in the spots mentioned.
Counsellor Russ. armed with volume
of Blackstone, quoted as follows:-"It is
also as much felony by common
law to steal such of them (animals,
etc) as are fit for food as iI
is to steal tame animals, but not SO, II
they are only kept for pleasure, curiosity,
or whim, as dogs, bears, cats, apes, par
rots and singing birds"
'.There is no such thing" said the
learned counsellor, las ownership OF
CATS"
"Theu, why do you quote Blackstone
and then attempt to prove the Liende-
chers own the cat2" asked Mr.. Plug
stem.
To which leading question there was
no reply; oon
At one time during the proceedings the
cat was put upon the floor. Mrs. Ander-
ton, who had all the while been eyeing
held PUSSY" or "Tootsey," made dash
for the cat.
"Come, Pussy; come. Pussy" she said
as she Intercepted PUSSY" or "Tootsey,"
who had started in to investigate the
secrets of Police Captain Newton's pri-
and bore it triumphantly to the
Anderson side Of the house. where it was
half smothered with caresses and endeav-
ors to find the healed toy bullet wound.
''You will give that cat back to Mrs.
Liendecker, If you please" said Counsel
lor Russ.
while" said the indignant Mr.. Anderson.
Counsellor Russ took the cat away, and
a lew moments afterward deposited it in
the lap of Mrs. Liendecker.
Both legal gentlemen made eloquent
speeches, ut the conclusion of which JUS
tice Davis remarked drily:-
''The cat will Stay in the possession OF
Mrs. Liendecker. Mrs. Hermann will not
be held on the charge of stealing
the cat The Andersons may secure it
through civil process"
And that, ic is said. the Andersons
will attempt to do.
Mrs. Liendecker put "Tootsey" in a
big brown basket, securely fastened the
lid, and she and her husband marched
off in triumph.