Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-04-20
ANIMALS THAT HAVE MURDERED
MEN

killing by animals is common enough.
but cases where man is murdered de-
libcrately by an animal are more rare
There have been cases. though. where an
imals have killed men in such manner
that had they been bipcds instead OF
quadrupeds they would have been trieu
for and convicted of murder in the first
degree. Stories of several murders by
animals come from England. a Lin,
colnshre bull suddenly evinccd hatred
of the greatest agility to avoid the ami
mai whenever it happened to be in the
same field with it With every one else
on the farm the bull was as gentle a.
could be- and even would come TO the
farm hands To he petted in response 10
peculiar call. one day Farmland work
ing in a field saw the bull. which was
grazing in a meadow nearby, walk to a
gate leadin: to the yard of the house
. lift the latch with his nose and pass
through. In the yard was the farmer,
asleep in a chair tilted against the side
Of the house. The bull seemed To know
that the farmer was as.eep, and steaithliy
approached him. The farmland. reailz-
ing what the animal WAS about. ran with
"A pitchfork tn try to prevent the lmncnu-
ing murder. But he was too late. The
bull paused within half ii dozen paccs OF
the sleeping farmer. lowered his head and
made furious rush. pinninc the man
AGAINST the side of the buildinc and Kill
ing him instantly. Without waiting to
gore his victim the bull turned ana
StrOtlpu ont INTO the nl'dtltW aSdiil
\ corporal in a native Indian regiment
was murdered by monkey. Tho monkey
had been caught young and had been kept
as pet by an officer OF the regiment.
who was fond of him on account of tho
unusual intelligence he showed. Ii was
the duty of a certain corporal I" feed the
monkey. ami one day he accidentally gave
to it some food which caused II great
pain The monkey never forgot or for
gave the corpora1. though another soldier
was assigned to the duty Of feeding g
animal. One morning the oiiceT aw"ke
room missing. He dressed hastily anu
went ont. The first thing he heard was
that the corporal had been found IN ms
monkey sitting on his body toying with
razor. The razor subsequently was
identified AS one belonging to the officer
and had been left on the table in his
room when he went to bed the preceding
night To commit the crime the monkey
must have gone out. razor in hand. INT
the pitch-dark night. walked 100 yards 70
guard and made his way down long
corridor to the room where the corporal
was sleeping. No one saw the monkey
until after the murder had peen commit
ted.
Aboy of 13 was murdered by race
morse which had taken a violent 'ilsiihe
to him 1t is believed that the boy AZ
some time had teased or NAL ireated the
horse. for ii was Gent!eness Itself WIN
every one else The boy was warned not
TO 60 near the horse but one DAY nc en-
tered a loose box stall where his enemy
was confined. The horse at once knockc,i
the hoy down. grabbed him by the back
of his waistCOat with his teeth and peat
his brains out by slamming him aSainS
the sides of the stall. The horse Kept
wo,,,d-be resc,Iers at bay while he wa;
committing his murder bv kicking Vio-
IentIy. Having killed the boy. he allowed
the stable hands to enter the stall with
ont irving 70 do them harm. There have
been several instances where elephants
have watched opportunity and muir
| dered their keepers. against whom they
| had some grievance, perhaps OF iona
| standing.