The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1905-04-21

%tS% VI lle quit or innocence
OF suspected persons might be cStab
ilshed are more numerous. perhaps
tllan one would at first suppose. ONLY
the other day pet goat belonging t
the proprietor of a large public hOus,
was obliged to give up his life to prove
his masters innocence and his OWL
Jack of caution.
The story. which was considered
rather "tall' at the time, related to
five barrels of whisky which were de.
Ilvercd to the publican by the whole.
sale agent. and which remained for
some time on the pavement outside his
establishment. According to his state
meht a pet goat which the publican
mad had for some years came along.
ana seeing the barrels went I'D to each
one separately and. perhaps as a prac-
teal protest against Customs dues in
general, ate up the Government
stamps. Five minutes later the inSpec-
tor arrived, and. finding the stamps
missing, COnfiScated the whisky.
lie publican assured him that the
goat had the stamps in his little in
side, but, being tcetotaler, the Gov
eminent official refused to swallow so
remarkable Il story. AS the fine would
have been considerable, and there was
likelihood of his license being can
celIed. the publican decided that, if
necessary, he would sacrifice the life
OF his goat to prove his statement.
tie appeared before the local magis-
tratoS, who, after listening attentivelv
to his story, ordered the goat to be
slaughtered and the contents of his |
stomach analysed. This was done.
and as there were distinct traces of |
something which might have been rev.
enue stamps, or blotting pads, or pen
WiperS, the publican Vas given tbe
benefit of the doubt and his whisky re-
turned to him. He was warned, how
ever. not to keep a goat in future, or
ne might not be so fortunate next time
should the animal evince q taste for
revenue stamps.
! A short time ago a case in which 4
girl was accused OF robbinc
her mistress Of a valuable diamond
stud attracted some attention. The
stud was on the dressing table while
the maid was busting the room. and
when she left the jewel was missing.
1t could not be found, and the girl was
accused of stealing it, her boxes
;see2rc1ed: etc, and finally She was ar
'ested aid charged with the theft. L
Probably at her wits end for some |
means Of proving her innocence. the
5irl stated that the parrot had swat. Y
owed it: she was sure of that though
he had not actually witnessed the L
wan robbery. The parrot, it an \
scared, had been in the family several {
ears. and was allowed to fly about the +
oomS at will, often hopping among S
he trinketS on the dressing table of II
is mistress. The magistrate who tried Il
he case was inclined to believe tie Il
lrLs statement, and ultimately decid- Il
u tHat hef accuSerS must either per- il
ut the bird to be slaughtered for the Il
imposes OF evidence or withdraw the a
harSe. After considerable argument II
he lady agreed to the latter course and
be girl was discharged. er..~r.-,.- c;
A bird doctor who examined the par- u
Ot gave it as his opinion that there tt
'as something Of hard and foreign ci
azure III the birds stomach which II
light possibly be the stud, though he re
'ould not venture to affirm this for a ca
9rtalnty. -~s-.. m
A few months later however, the tn
arrot became i'll and ultimately died, K
MI on being dissected the stud was er
covered. The conscience stricken tn
Wner thereupon searched for the ac-
Used girl, and having found her, made
enerous amends for the unjust charge
re had brought against her. To
Another case of an animal being cut de
zen TO produce evidence took place in Of
cotlanu in 1897. An errand bow in = an
'ocery store in Perth was given 4 ri
note by his employer to pur. ey
laSe i've shillings' worth of stamps. eli
ne BOY started on his mission accom-. ar
'nled by his dog, a frisky, wrc-hai4d Of
rrler, named Bob. but returned half ar
hour later in great excitement saw. th,
g that the animal had snatchea the or
'te cut Of his hand ard before he an
'uId regain it had eaten the "tpnner," wi
Inc boy was asked if he would he I'll,
Hing for his dog to be killed in order mn
at portions of the rote might be re- on
'Eered and his own innocence estab. bo
'neu but this he refused, saving tire faf
.lIc animal wa the only friend he KIN
H. anu he wasn't going back ON soc
H. lie stoutly declared his readi- HE
'Ss to SO to prison rather than sacri. rio
e Boz. '"N'1 ''.
MS master, who was a kindly Scotch.
IN consulted veterinary, who de. .,
Dreu that he could examine Hoh's
onlaCh without making him forfeit que
5 lie, and when he had ossnrod or
DDS owner that the animal wonld he sW
risht IN the course of a few DAVIS are
e boy gave his consent IN tbo o,,o,,. l.