Evening star., 1897-05-12
SHOOTING A DOG
Case Of Interest Decided in the Police
Court.
MP. Pfa1l Fined and His Bull Terrier
is In Danger-The
Evidence. = -s1S

Judge Kimball this afternoon In the Po-
lice Court disposed of the cases resulting
from an encounter Sunday afternoon May
2, in front Of the Hotel Arno. between a
Great Dane dog. owned by Mr.. Gustav A.
Erni of 1920 18th street, and a mongrel
bull terrier. the property of Mr.. William
E. Prall. 5r. After decidedly Interesting
hearing Mr.. Prall was adjudged guilty of
cruelty shooting the Great Dane and also
OF discharging q firearm in the street. A
fine Of SO was imposed in the cruelty case
and s. In the firearm case.
Mr.. Erni first took the stand and related
the story Of the shooting substantially as
told in The Star at the time of the service
OF the warrant on Mr.. Prall. last week. He
visited the residence of his aunt, adjoin-
Ing the Hotel Arno. Sunday, May ?. His
Great Dane dog, olaf" was attacked bv
mongrel bull terrier. owned by Mr.. Prali.
Wno is hrst cousin of Mr.. Erni. A small
white dog, belonging to the aunt of Mr.
Erni, barked at the heels of the bull ter
rier, and thinking that 1t would be killed
should ne separate the big dogs, Mr.. Erni
P.ckeo up the little fellow and placed him
within the house. AS he was returning to
separate his animal and the bull the for
mer received a bullet in the neck It was
oadiy injured. and Is now in a precxrious
conoition as a result of the shooting The
wltness mad reason to believe that Mr. Prall
nred the shot from a balcony Just outside
his ROOM '1e
Mr.. Malcolm G. Bruce witnessed the o.
eurIence. He saw the Great Dane attacked
by the bull terrier, and observed Mr.. Erni
carry on the little white dog Just as he
was returning toward the fighting dogs"
salo MI. Bruce, Il heard the discharge Of
nrearm and noticed that the Great Dane
was struck. At the same time a commotton
was plain on the balcony outside Mr.. Pralrs
rooms Some potted plants were stirred
ana saw man receding into the rooms
l cannot swear that 1t was Mr.. Prall. I
am satisfied, however, that the shat Vas
fired from the balcony"
That Is the case of the government" an
nounced Prosecuting Attorney Pugh, when
Mr.. Bruce had concluded.
DO you claim that q case has been made
out! asked the court. HAS Mr. PraIl
been connected with the shooting?"
Most certainly. we have a case" replied
Mr. fueh, with spirit. Suppose this was a
trial for murder. Does your honor think
Tor an instant that the circumstantial evil
dence we have presented would not be suf-
ncient to convict the defendant?''
Kimball.
Mr.. Frank G. Butterworth. was the first
to appear in behalf Of Mr. Prall He stated
from the standpoint of an expert that the
able and good natured; in fact, is a chlid's
pet.
The law makes all bull dogs vicious per
se." interjected Mr. Pugh.
RANK ouhWley, a foreman IN the employ
of Mr.. Prall, caused much amusement by
his endeavors to 'evade the interrosatories
of the prosecuting attorney. After the
encounter with the Great Dane. the wit
ness said. he took the bull terrier that was
injured, to Mr.. Pralrs room
Was Mr.. Prall there?" asked Mr.. Pugh.
Yes. SIR - :.
rs his room adjacent to the balcony"
Yes. sir"
What did Mr.. Prall say to you?"
He said he was going to New York, :"
answered Mr.. Shawley. >t->
After a great deal of hemming and haw-
Ing, and with apprehensive sIances at lis
employer, Shawley finally admitted. IN re-
sponse to a direct question. that Mr.. Prall
had told him that he (PralD shot the Great
Dane
Il submit the case without argument, I"
said the prosecuting witness.
Attorney Norris, in behalf Of Mr.. Prall,
urged that the shooting was done in order
to save the bull terrier No cruelty had
been perpetrated
ITO my mind no Justification for the
shooting has been shown" concluded Judge
Kimball He then imposed the fines stated.
1t Is the intention OF Mr.. Erni to prose-
cute Mr.. Prall In the United States branch
Of the Police Court for keeping vicious
dog.