The Grit-advocate., 1905-04-21
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than one would at first suppose. Only
the other day pet goat beloncin. TO
the proprietor of large public house
was Obliged to give up his life to prove
bis masters innocence and his own
Jack of caution.
The story. which was considered
rather "talr' at the time. related to
nVe barrels of whisky which were de-
i1vered to the publican by the whole
Gale agent, and which remained for
some time on the pavement outside his
establishment. According to his state
nent pet goat which the publican
had mad for some years came along
ana seeing the barrels went up to each
one separately and, perhaps as prac-
hcal protest against Customs dues in
general, ate up the Government
stamps. Five minutes later the inspec-
TOR arrived and, finding the stamps
Kissing. contiscated the whisky.
. The publican assured him that the
goat had the stamps in his little in
side, but, being teetOtaler, the Gov
"rnment official refused to swallow SO
remarkable Il story. AS the fine would
have been considerable. and there was
likelihood of his license being can
relled. the publican decided that. if
necessary. he would sacrifice the life
OF his goat to prove his statement.
He appeared before the local magis-
trates, who. after listening attentvely
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 was given the
benefit of the doubt and his whisky re-
turned to him. He was warned. how
ever. not to keep n goat in future, or
he might not be so fortunate next time
should the animal evince taste for
revenue stamps.
A short time ago case in which a
servant girl was accused of robbing
her mistress of 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 WIS
accused of stealing it. her boxes
searched, etc, and finally she was ar
rested and charged with the theft
Probably at her wits end for some
means of proving her innocence. the
girl stated that the parrot had swal-
We'd it; she was sure of that. though
she had not actually witnessed the
avian robbery. The parrot. it ap-
peared. had been in the family several
years, and was allowed to fly about the
rooms at will. often hopping among
the trinkets on the dressing table of
his mistress. The magistrate who tried
the case was inclined to believe the
girls statement. and ultimately decid
ed that her accuserS must either per-
nit the bird to be slaughtered for the
purposes of evidence or withdraw the
charge. After considerable argument
the lady agreed to the latter course and
the girl was discharged.
A bird doctor who examined the par
rot gave it as his opinion that there
was something of hard and foreign
nature in the birds stomach which
might possibly be the stud, though he
would not venture to affirm this for u
certainty.
A few months later, however, the
parrot became i'll and ultimately died,
and on being dissected the stud was
recovered The conscience stricken
owner thereupon searched for the ac-
'cused girl. and having found her. made
generous amends for the unjust charge
she had brought against her.
Another case of an animal being cut
open to produce evidence took place in
Scotland in 1897. An errand boy in Il
ten-pound note by his employer to pur-
chase five shillings' worth of stamps.
~ boy started on his mission accom-
py4ied by his dog. a frisky. wire-haired
terrier, named Bob. but returned half
an hour later in great excitement say
ing that the animal had Snatche1 the
note out of his hand and before he
could regain it had eaten the ''tenner."
The boy was asked if he would be
willing for his dog to be killed in order
that portions of the note might be re-
covered and his own innocence cstab-
lished but this he refused. sayin" the
little animal was the only friend lie
had. and he wasn't going back on
him. He stoutly declared his rcadi-
ness to go to prison rather than sacri-
iice Bob.
His master, who was Il kindly Scotch
man, consulted a veterinary. who de-
clared that he could examine Bob'S
stomach without making him forfeit
his life, and when he had assured
Bob's owner that the animal would be
all right in the course of a few days
the boy gave his consent to the opera
ton. The dog was given an anaes-
lhetic, his stomach was cut open. and
several portions of undigestcd paper