The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-09-12
FURNISHED LOTS OF FUN.
Some Very Amusing Points in the Case o


Some Very Amusing Points in the Case of
George Vail.
The trial of George F. Vail Of GratiOt
Station on the charge of cruelty to animals,
in the First District Police Court, says TIE
st. Louis Post Dispatch, was one of the most
interesting cases tried before that court for
some time. About fifty residents of the
quiet little village on the Frisco were in
court as witnesses and spectators, and
though but an ordinary case, the bitterness
of feeling which exists between Vail and
the majority of Gratiot Station citi-
zens made 1t peculiarly important.
TO Mrs. Wolf, his neighbnr. He found
them In his pasture, which he claimed was
the feeding ground of his game chickens, his
cows and calves. There are weeds, pond
and gully III this pasture, and each of
these became the subject of learned and
mighty discussion between NJ. T. Fauntle-
roy for the Humane Society and Marshal
Mcdonald, who defended Vail. Vail said
the dogs were chasing his game chickens.
1t was 80 o'clock on July 18th last.
Snow the Court Knows said Mr.. Faun-
tleroy, THAT chickens go to bed before
O'Clock. and"
"rhe sun was up p interrupted Mr.. Me-
Donald.
1.-THE signal service records will prove
that" said Mr.. FauntleIoy, and from the
HGdIcu utUdlO hHlCl luliUhtu lHO NtAJ
important point whether chickens go to bed
at 5, 6 or o'clock, it looked as though the
signal service records would be necessary in
the petty police case.
One witness stated that the dogs could not
be seen ON account of the high thStleS.
High thistles in COW field" sneered
Mr. Fauntleroy. "Who ever heard Of this
ties being allowed to grow by cows in a ten
acre lot after all the grass was gone ?"
=" Cows DO not eat thistles," replied Mr..
Mcdonald. Asses and donkeys alone feed
on Them" and the debate on the height,
nutritiousness and general botanical BIZ
ography OF thistle5 followed.
At another point in the trial the traits of
character and instinct of water spaniel
dog formed the topic for another debate, in
which Mr.. Mcdonald tried to prove that
the dog when shot was displaying the true
character of a water spaniel in chasing
chickens over a pond of water, under the
mistaken idea that they were quails or snipe
or ducks.
Mr.. FauntlerOy agreed that if Mr.. Vail
thought anything of his game chickens. So
called. he certainly would not allow them to
run at large in field, prey to stray dogs,
and further, as proof OF their not being
game, they did not stand and fight
the dog, but quickly ran away. The
life, habits, spunk and fighting
instincts of the game fowl were then eXpati-
ated upon, much to the edifcation of the
court. From game fowl the attorneys fell
to discussing shotguns, their range and
loudness OF report; birdshct, its weight, size
and penetration at certain distances; then
to geometry and the line OF vision In held
Of farm produce in which weeds grew from
one inch to five feet.
At the close of it all Judge Morris said:
There seems to be no doubt as to the
discharge of firearms in the hands Of Mr.
Vail and the shot entering the dogs body,
thereby causing him great pain and agony.
Therefore l will fine him $50 and ="
And we will appeal the case" said Mr.
Mcdonald, not allowing tine Judge to finish