The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-11-05
LEFT LEG NOT GUILTY.
A Cat That Was Owned in severaIty
by Four Men.
From the Cincinnati Inquirer.

From the Cincinnati Inquirer.
The ancient house OF Manockjee, Poon-
jeajee & Co is situated in Borah Bazaar
Street Fort Bombay, and it is claimed by
the members Of the present firm that their
ancestors have carried on the same BUSH
ness, with few notifications, to meet
the necessities of the European trade, for
more Centuries than the United States has
been known to the map of the world.
The firm is made up of four partners,
and their counting-room and one of their
warehouses are in this building. This
particular storeroom contains only silks
and other precious stuffs.
One day there strayed into the count
ing house a pretty white kitten. Little
attention was paid to pussy until she had
made the round of the room, rubbed her
fur against the leg of each member of
the firm, and finally walked demurely over
to the strong box which stood in one cor
ner. The animal seemed quite satisfied
with the construction of the safe, and
when she had again reached the door side
she made a playful leap, raped the bunch
of keys with her velvet-like paws, stretch
ed herself comfortably beside the door and
began to purr little cat-like song.
Brothers" exclaimed one of the party,
this is surely a good omen. Unbiddeu,
this pretty little creature comes into our
place of business; without ceremony she
introduces herself to each member of the
firm. Next she examines our property to
see If we are solvent and in good stand
ing with the world of trade. Let us adopt
the little stranger and give ii home in
the great house of Manockjee, Poonjeajee
& Co. What say you, my good broth
ers?"
well" said another member OF the
house. Il am quite willing to admit that
/ ~s,rl,A
Suppose we take the little thing, and, in
order that the good or ill-fortune it may
bring be equally divided, we will consider
it one of the assets of the firm. Now
how shall we divide the ownership of the
animal?"
"Oh, wel,' exclaimed the others, 1--WE
viii follow the regular precedent of our
people. You, Manockjee, may claim the
left foreleg; 1 will take the right, and so
on till the cat is equally divided. Is this
arrangement satisfactory to alp
There being no objection to this mode
of distribution, it was so agreed. The
bookkeeper was called into the counting
house, and the ownership of the cat was
duly entered on the books of the firm as
one of its assets, each quarter of the ami
NAL being designated as the property OF
some Individual member of the firm.
All went well with the house of Manock-
jee, PoonjeaJee & Co. for a year or so, and
pussy became a great favorite with the
whole household. Never for centuries had
the great house been so prosperous Yes,
there could be no m.stake-the kitten had
been a harblnger of good luck
Some time during the month of Decem-
Der. 1887, while puss was playing in The
street in front of the store. its attention
was distracted by some little moving OBJ
ject, and il did not notice a bullock cart
coming from an opposite direction In
moment poor kit was under the heavy
wheels and before it could extricate it.
self one white paw was crushed and brok-
en-.
The left foreleg of the cat belonged to
Manockjee; so il was the duty Of Manook-
Jee TO send for the physician and foot The
bill The leg was wrapped in bandages
soaked in turpentine liniment, and regu-
larry each ddy the doctor made his pro-
fessional call at the great house to hasten
the recovery of the mascot
Tn the early part of January. 1873 tba
cat was walking about over the ia lies and
desks Of the countng-room when she over
turned a lighted lamp. The flames ON
the lamp ignied the turpentine with viii
the bandages were soaked, end pussy a W
in terror through the coun ing-ro- m into
the warehouse.
Before help could he summoned the
great warehouse, with It's valuable con-
tents, was in flames, and three hours n T.
er only the big iron safe marked the spot
where once stood the old. old house of
Manockjee. Poonjeajee & Co.
The partners took their loss with al the
stoical forbearance of the confirm d fatal-
list. All things were ordained in the beg n
ming. This was merely a decree of fate
But now comes the important quest on
of settling for loss. Who was ar uit2
business meeting Of the firm was held and
1t was soon decided by the other hire
partners that The whole damage was caus-
ed by the burning baudage wrapped about
the left foreeg of the cat. That left fore
leg was the individual and separate prop
erty of Manockjee, which made deci ion a
easy matter OF course, Manockiee v as
responsible for the destruction Of the
warehouse.
Although Manockjee did rot dispute TIT
assertion outright, still he asked or lime
o reflect before assuming the en- Ire re
possibility. Al last he asked his part er
If they would object 10 a friendly suit in