Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-07-03
Pets VS.. ShOtEuns.
Editor of The Evening Star:


Allow me to sympa thize through your
columns with Ed. NJ. Schaeffer." and if it
may be of some consola ton to him, to in
form him that he is not alone in his affiic-
ton; my experience may possibly prove
source of consolation to him, and to all
similar sufferers, and, alas, their name is
legion, in this city. 1 have a home-and
what is home. without pets? have likewise
neighbor, across a vacant lot-a colored
gentleman, who whites away his leisure
hours by sitting on his back porch and
shooting at anything round Last Monday
evening, while enjoying a quiet game of
whist with some friends. We had rapid
firing serenade lasting from to half-past TO-
At about my girl screamed to me to come
down and see what was the matter with
my gray tomcat. He was writhing and
moaning. His motions made US think of
poison. and, strange to say, not one of US
connected his sufferings with the shooting
which was merrily rafting along outside.
At last. by petting and stroking, l quieted
him down for the night. and only discov-
cred next morning that he had been shot
in the stomach. The poor thing tried to
follow me down stairs but could not walk.
missed its foothold and tumbled down to
the landing beneath, shrieking with pain
and in commissions. / at once gave it chlor
oform and put 1t out of its agony. l mott
fed the lieutenant of our precinct, and he
duly sent an officer to investigate. Parties
have seen the man firing at other times,
others had seen that actual shooting, but
when the officer tried to make a case, he
told me. they objected to go to court"
This explanation struck me dumb, or l
would have asked him If, when he made an
arrest, he asked the party If he objected
to being locked up at the, station. Also
what was the use of subpoenas, etc.
Well, all that was done was the re-
moval of the dead cat and. suppose a
fatheriy talk to my colored gentleman by
the officer. who assured me the man would
not shoot again. IIshdjlld feel more salts
fled If the rifle, at least had been removed.
The mans plea was that cats in general
stole his victuals. and that his rifle could
not kill. but mersty sting them SO as to
teach them not toA come again. To this
wish to remark that my cats are rather
oyerfed. and not likely to prowl for food
also they are always In at night. and
could not be the providers. and that the way
to get rid of strays animals is to notify the
Humane Society, which comes and removes
the undesired animals to the cat farm with
some two years aSp:- also that the hole his
rifle made In my cat would blind a man or
kill him if struck on the temple. There is a
law against firearms, and told the officer
that my next moves II there was any more
shooting. will be against the rifle as a null
sance. whether there is killing or not; and
shall Join the Humane Society, is It under
stands the prosecution Of these cases better
than the police. Experience has taught me
that. The value of the Humane Society in
such cases is that 1t acts summariiy and
with will. Only few days ago the kill
ousiy pushed by the Humane Society, and
1t succeeded In getting the kilier-a po.
liceman at that-fined $40. E. M s.
July 3. 1899