The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1903-10-31
A CAT FOR TARIFFvILLE.

The Dead Cat OF Grafton, Mass
What an Expert Says About Cats.
All the way from Botley, England, a
Persian cat was sent to Miss Adelaide
Lincoln, No. Oak street, and arrived
Thursday. The cat came through the
customs department, but was shipped
by the American Express Company in
bond, and is probably the first cat that
has been imported direct from England
to Worcester.
The cat was bought in England this
summer by Mrs. J. C. Nicholson Of
Tariffville, Conn. and was not shipped
until long after she had come home
until long after she had come home.
Last, summer Mrs, Nicholson went to
England expressly to buy the best
Persian cat possible. and after a long
search among the pedigreed animals
there she bought this one, which made
its first stop on American soil in Miss
Lincoln's cat kennels on Oak street.
The cat is a beautiful silver Persian,
bought for breeding purposes, and was
shipped direct to Miss Lincoln, because
she is an authority in catology, or
whatever 1t is called, and an expert in
the care and handling of pedigreed
show cats.
Worcester and took the English cat to
her Connecticut home, together with
another valuable cat Miss Lincoln has
been keeping for her.
/ The cat was insured for SIPS. 1t is
worth an even 500 but show cat prices
on the market and on the custom books
are somewhat different, as the customs
valuation was placed at s25, for which
a duty of 20 per cent. or $3.50, was
paid. IT,.
Miss Lincoln said the cat was in fine
condition when 1T reached her. The
American Express Company had taken
the best Of care of 1t, and the long trip
had seemed to do it good. The cat was
getting in splendid coat, and Mrs.
Nicholson she believes, found bar
gain when she bought it abroad.
Miss Lincoln, who Is Massachusetts
e-president Of the Beresford Cat
Club of America, is greatly surprised
and also amused over the report OF the
county commissioners in the case where
dogs killed a valuable registered cat
belonging to Mrs. r. A. Pierce OF Graf
ton. j. = sS
Chairman Edward A. Estabrook Of
the Grafton selectnnen received letter
from the county commissioners in
which they declared cats, dogs and
hares not domestic animals.
This ruling is affording much anuse-
ment as well as surprise among cat and
dog fanciers and Others" said Miss Lin
coin. IT noticed the letter from the
commissioners to Mr.. Estabrook said I
would not be granted a hearing. They
don't seem to understand the situation.
was acting as appraiser OF the cat,
and set the price at $50, which I con-
slider moderate. The cat was good
breeder, and its kittens regularly
brought $40 each twice year. I had
the cat registered for Mrs. Pierce, and
felt qualified to appraise the animal at
her request.
IT did not apply for a hearing; did not
want one, in fact. Mr.. Estabrook asked
me IL would talk with some others
about this. as he said I had told him
more about the value of some cats than
he ever dreamed of before, and I con-
scented. The commissioners seem to
have construed that into a desire ON my
part sor hearing, and they have de-
MED me something I never asked for
or desired.
Most of the men with whom talked
in that case seemed to think cats were
worth about two cents and were aston
ished at my assertion that I never pay
less than 500 for a cat, and that there
are cats which sell for $500 and more.
I can produce any number Of receipts
for cats, registration entries and such
thing to, show them that there are
valuable cats, and that there is money
in them from a breeders standpoint.
1.-THE idea of saying cats are not do
nestle animals in simply astonishing.
hardly know how they can be classed
otherwise. This case may be brought
to the courts. A judge has told me he
was greatly interested in the case es-
pecially since the county commissioners
have said cats are not domestic ami
mails. 4 '
Really don't see anything to pre-
vent winning such suit with every
proof on hand that the cat was valuable
that it was a registered, pedigreed
breeding animal earning money for the.
owner. There doesn't seem to be any
thing to prevent collecting damages for
the killing Of such valuable property.
-"All that brings up the matter Of tax
ing cats again. The old bill, which