The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-08-31

he thrown out because OF its triviality. In
this they were disappointed, for, although
the amount involved was only S., Judge
Greene settled down in his chair, evil
IDENTITY prepared for long seance, and
before court adjourned it was proved that
great deal of law and argument and
dignity can be made to surround the de- er-
mination Of a goat.
Attorneys Dinkelspiel and Gesford of
San Francisco and Attorney Robert Edgar
represented the respondents and appel
lants, and the court was flied with ladies
who had knowledge Of goats in general,
and OF the casus beli in particular.
: The evidence showed ttat last May
three Great Dane dogs, the property of
Conrad Luetgen, destroyed a peaceabls
AngOra goai, the property OF Thomas r.
Latimer. The case was tried in Berkeley
and judgment given against Lue gen for
s. damages and So icr the loss of the goat.
In earnest accents Latimer told of 8
goat. He said it was tame female half
Angora goat, that never invited fight
and quietly and peacefully attended to its
duty of giving milk.
a small war followed the question,
t'What is the value of the goat?'' Lati-
mer proceeded to tell of is worth to him,
but Judge Greene would hear of nothing
but is market value.
You ask for the value of the goat"
SAID he court in its cearest tone, land
you also ask for dam ages for its loss 1t
is possible that you may have suffered
cOnsid erablv from the loss of the goat,
from being deprived of its milk its COM
panlonship, its society. A man may think
enough of a goat TO let it snare his bed,
buj that is nothing TO do with the value
OF a goat We want to know what it
would sell for if you took week TO dis
pose of it?'
Latimer thought he could get about SIS
for it, probably Sc.
Now, how have you suffered by the
absence of the goatP' asked Judge
Greene. In any other courtroom there
would have been a roar of laughter at the
proceedings, but only perfect strangers
laugh in Judge Greene's courtroom and
they never repeat the offense.
Latiner could not really say how he had
suffered TO the extent of $50 by the loss of
the goat, but he was certain it was q real
tame female half Angora goat your
Honor" and he knew that Luetgen's dogs
he'd killed her.
Mrs. Page, Mrs. Leutgen, Mrs. Simonds
and many other people who move in
Berkeley's high-toned society were on the
witness-stand and were cross-examined
with a much detail as though human life
hung in he balance. A deposition of an
absent witness was introduced and fought
over for an hour and great amount of
evidence was introduced as expert testi-
mony of goats and their values.
Judge Greene evidently enjoyed the
matinee, but when il came to within a
few minutes of O'Clock he concluded
that Latimer's goat had had long
enough inning and he closed up he case
rapidly. He upheld the Justices decision
OF S. for the value OF the goat, but could
not see that any exemplary damages
were due. The Justice had decreed s. on
each count, so that Latimer lost IS ~ his
appeal, although he won his case. 1t is
calculated that $3.50 has been spent in
court fees, stenographers, witness fees
and attorneys in the case since il was first
brought.