Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1894-11-21
". ". 3. GALLAHER. Editor.
Nouenlber Fl 1894
Irhen Animals ,cere Mofefacfors.

Animals were prosecuted I'D courts %
Justice between the thirteenth and seven
teeuih centuries for Injuries BY them TO
human beings or private property" said
lawyer IN speaking Of the curiosities Of
ancient legal procedure and laws, and
were subjected IN due form 10 trial. judg-
ment and sentence-the latter often that
Of death il some cruel manner. When
the animal was capable Of physical seizure
il was formally arrested and brought be
fore court. and then imprisoned in the or
binary prison Of the place. The public
prosecutor prepared formal accusation.
Witnesses were then examined and their
dispositions taken as 10 the truth Of the
charge If the charge against the accus
ed beast was sustained, and conviction
followed, the court grsrely pronounced
sentence upon the culpirt, which. If 3 cap
ital case. was followed by public execu-
tion with great formaliiy. the condemned
animal being sometimes dressed in the
garb Of men. The mode Of death was by
burning, hanging by the legs, mutiiation
OF manning, according 10 tbe gravity Of
the offence for which punishment was 10
be inflicted.
1T seems so ridiculous DOW, that If the
facts were not spread Oh The official rec
orls Of the courts that took cognizaDce Of
The cases, il would noi be believed by any
one to-day that il France in The latter
part Of The sixteenth century-l572-sey-
enteeu dogs were tried, convicted and sen
tenced to be hanged drawn and quariered,
the crime alleged sgainsi them being the
mutlaton and deyouring Of infants IN
their cradles. Still, when one stops 10
ponder over what must have been The
economical condition Of The time that The
association Of swine and sleeping babes
was 50 close that the latter became easy
food for ihe former, il may DOT need the
court records TO testify to the peculiar re-
laiions Of dumb beasts 10 the laws Of that
credulous age. II 1899, near Dion, s
bull eDraged by 8 lad who insisted on
fishing through g field in which The AMI
nal was pasiuriDg. charged upon the boy,
and placed bin forever beyond the paleof
angling brotherhood. The bull was or
rested, Tried and convicted, The accusation
against him being that be had 'luriously
killed 8 young lad Of i or i years.-
He vss sentenced 10 be publicly hanged
until dead, and he was. Even horses
were visited with capital punishment IN
France for the killing or naming Of hu-
man beings.
IN Sardinia the law was als2 very rig-
orous againsi animals, and judicial pun
ishmeut was visited against sli offenders
except The ass. This animal, for some
reason, seemed 70 have escaped the death
psual,y flr bis offences. For the first Of
fence one Of hi, ears vas cut Of. For the
second bis other ear was chopped from
his head. and If be was iDoorrigible,iaken
g third time charged with crime, BE- was
declared forfei; 10 the crown. This, 81
this distant day. doesn't seen 10 reflect
much credit 90 the crown, for presumably
the pupisbmsD. for 2 third ofence Is
greater than & at Inflicted for q first OF
second II at estimation must The
crown have g. IN held il Sardinia 500
yearstsgo ifit were greater punishment for
g mule 10 belong 10 i than il was 10 have
both ears cls of>
But, compared with other prosecutions
aDd procedures under the law Of tbs, tine,
these and similar actions bscame rational
and Of good cause Thus. II cases where
phv=icsl seizure Of the offender was in
possible or irnpractic2ble aud Is appsar-
GniFJFen CSyYoF