The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-02-09
COCK FIGHTING IS ILLEGAL
Decision Of Judge WiCkham Of the
HenriCO County Court.
A MUCH YEXED QUESTION SETTLED.
Interview with DIR. Jud. Il. Wood-In the
Future the Law Will BE Enforced and
Chicken introduced as Evidence
Past OfIcnscs to i;e Forgiven.

The much-discusscd case Of whether
eocklghung in Virginia is punishable un-
der the law which prohibits crusity to
animals Is at last decided, for although
the opinion Of Judge Ashby Wiokham. OF
the Henrico County court, has not YET
been formally handed down. II is known
fnat he holds the cruel sport TO be
inlsdemeanor under the laws OF virginia.
II will be remembered that early in De-
co,,her a warrant was sworn out against
Thomas r.. Vail. before Justice J. 7.
Lewis. OF HenricO county, by Agent - -
Taylor OF the Society for the prevention
IL Cruelty TO Animals, charging him with
ar, city TO animals. The warrant was the
result Of "a cock-nght held at the EXposi-
a TEST CASE.
tion Grounds on December lst
a test case was made OF the case II
lcag maintained by the defence that a
c3cr was not an animal, In the sense In
which the term is used in the statute IL
was argued at the last term OF the court
lut Judge Wickham reserved his opinion.
AZ This term OF the court he viii hand
d1,.n the following opinion In the case
"That cruelty TO a cock IS violation
of the statute. but 30 IS also held that lie
warrant was defective, inasmuch as IL
fa.s 20 state the particular acts const-
tutine the cruelty
Tho result Of this test case IS dlstnct
,.i.for, for the Society for the pre- lentlon
Of cruelty to Animals
DIR Jud f. Wood. president o. inc So
cietv EXPRESSED satisfaction az the de-
ca on last night
COVERS EVERY CASE
Captain a. 3. Guigon, counsel Tor tHc tHc
society" he said. "has claimed ircm me
trsf hat the act on the statute books
s,,il,. covers everv case of cruelty TO ami
mails. and after he began 10 stu " the
case had no doubt that the society would
win its case
THE first clause Of Judge Wickham's
decision stlstains our position thoroughly
as TO the latter portion, which says thst
the warrant or Nailf arrest was delec-
tive in that Il failed 10 state the Darucu-
lar act constituting cruelty tndl Is Il mat
ter Of little moment. In the Iuture'
should any case arise. the chickens tneir-
selves will be introduced as evidence
"'rhe law has been misconceiVed, con-
tinued Dr. Wood. ION account OF the OLD
statute which prohibited and makes
punishable cruelty TO horse or beast
In the statute repeating this act the "oius
used are any animal
II suppose the society will strictly en-
force the law in the future; viii they not
Doctor?' ] asked.
"Well." replied Dr. Wood, Il believe
that an law-abiding citizens VIII obey the
law now that % has been cfarly dehned-
Should II be violated, however. the society
will preserve its reputation Tor preventing
cruelty TO animals
~ understand" said ]. that several
cock-nehts have taken place since this
decision has been pending. VIII You
prosecute any of the parties concerned
In them?'
THEY CAN REST EASY.
NO" replied Dr. Wood. "al Of our
operations now are I'm the future and
while know the names Of a number OF
those concerned the society viii let
bygonos be bygoncs'
Dr Wood spoke in the highest terms or
the legal work Of Capt. Guigon, and com
pllmented his able argument and clear
exposition of the law before Judge Wick
han which undoubtedly won the case.
The S. L. G.. A. is now doing noble
work for the relief Of suffering animals,
and fits scope is broadening every day.
Much Of its work Is not known 10 the
public. for 80 does not appear I'm the
monthly reports No mention is made
Of the constant vigilance of the officers
I'm relieving animals of every kind OF
suffering. The owners OF dirty. un-
healthy stables are compelled TO clean
them drivers are made TO haul loads
proportioned to the strength OF their
teams. chickens brought TO the city IN
coops are fed and watcred; I'm word.
every point is carefully watched. and
none except those intimately associated
with the work know how much good is
done. The society is worthy Of and
should receive. help from every humane
citizen.