Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-11-05
Reminiscence. Of the Dog Case.

| To the Editor OF the Dispatch
Sir.-I was present on Friday OF las,
| week In the Police Court from the begin
ming to the end of the little dog case
| Up to that time | had cherished the
| sincerest sympathy with the purposes
| and aims of Dr. Woods society had
written editorials I'm the Religious Herald
commencing IT, was enrolled by some
body's courtesy as an honorary member,
and had watched It's career with unfiag-
ging interest and approval. My presence
In the white chamber" was due to the
fact that my little boy. a youth of IA.
had been summoned as a witness for the
prosecution, and | felt II my duty TO be
near him. When the trial began | was
by no means prepared to acknowledge
that the society had acted unreasonably.
| was. OF course, reluctant To believe
that DR.. Pollard. whom | had known
for a third Of a century and who would
not needlessiy set foot upon worm had
been guilty Of wanton and premeditated
cruelty. Still. l knew the president OF
the Society for the Prevention OF Cruelty
to Animals, and | could not bring my
self TO believe that he would drag be-
fore the court as common criminal
and honored and hitherto blameless min
lister and teacher. break up FOR the day
summon some twenty Of the students
as witnesses. without abundant evidence
OF gross wrong doing. So i concluded
that he had facts which had not reach
ed me.
As witness after witness for the prose-
cution testified. my amazement grew
Two faces emerged more and more
clearly-no cruelty was inflicted. and no
cruelty was intended. II was plain that
the secretary had been hoaxed by the
semi-humorous reporter and the garru-
lous boys, and the whole procedure be-
came to outsiders an uproarious farce.
Meanwhile, the blessed little doggie was
kicking up his heels and frisking about,
blissfuliy unconscious Of the ludicrousiy-
heroic efforts President Wood and his
great society were making to show that
he was manned, tortured. cruelty beaten,
and otherwise ill-treated, etc. ETC., ETC.,
etc. etc, against the statute In such
cases made and provided. etc. etc, etc.,
etc. IL was certainly q mistake TO say
that DIR. Pollard conducted his case with
great skill. He was too much hurt ana
outraged. He is a grave gentleman. some
what deficient In a sense OF humor. lie
took the whole case au serieux. he has
no genius for caricature. This deficiency
lost him a great opportunity.
L
note. but for the fact that l notice that
the president of the society proposes TO
pursue and punish Justice Crutchfield for
his decision In the case. How on earth,
as a sensible and just man. the Jusdce
could have done otherwise l cannot mag
inc. I am not set for his defence, but
predlct that the threat to defedt MIN
because he does not decide cases accord
ing TO the predictions Of President Wood
Il something novel and will scarcely harm
him. Moreover. II the Society for the
prevention OF Cruelty to Animals Is really
going into municipal politics. II Is hisn
time we all knew IL.
Somehow as l sat there and looked on
at what the Dispatch has correctly char.
acterized as Much Ado About Notning'
was lrresistibly reminded OF the Ia
mil,ar lines Of DR.. Watts, which. trust,
Mr.. Editor. you have not yet for
gotten:
Satan finds some mischief sun.
For idle hands to do.
The society has almost a sinecure and
IL must DO something TO furnish raison
d'etre.
pleasantly aside. honestly think
Thai the organisation committed q grave
bIunder. from the effects Of which II Will
not soon recover. II has a real mission,
with which all 'kind-hearted and hu-
name men will sympathize: but. II II Is
yoins into this sort OF trivial business.
With no thought OF the annoyance and
injury II Is INJECTING and on 20 prepos-
terous a mission AZ that Of Fighting
wrong which has never been committed.
then II simply commits hari kari.
r. II. PITT.
Richmond. Va.