The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1905-05-13
DEAD AMIN AIS TESTIMONY.

The cases on record where the lives
of animals have been sacrificed in or
er that the necessary proofs of thed
guilt or innocence OF suspected per-
sons might be established are more
numerous, perhaps, than one would
at first suppose. Only the other day
a pet goat belonging to the proprie-
tor of large public house was oblig-
ed to give up his life to prove his
masters innocene and his own lack
of caution.
The story, which was considered
rather "tall'' at the time, related to
FIVE barrels of whisky which were de-
livered to the publican by the whole
sale agent, and which remained for
some time on the pavement outside
his establishment. According to his
statement pet goat which the pub
1ican had had for some years, came
along, and seeing the barrels went to
one each separately and, perhaps as a
practical protest against Customs dues
in general, ate up the Government
stamps. Five minutes later the in
spector arrived, and, fndingthe stamps
missing, confscated the whisky.
The publican assured him that
the goat had the stamps in his Lit
tie inside" but, being a teetotaler,
the Government official refused to
swallow so remarkable story. AS
the fine would have been consider
able, and there was a likelihood of
his license being cancelled, the pub
lican decided that, if necessary, he
would sacrifice the life of his goat to
prove his statement.
He appeared before the local mag
istrates, who, after listening atten-
lively 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
revenue stamps, or blotting pads, or
pen wipers, the publican was given the
benefit of the doubts and his whisky
was returned to him. He was warmed,
however, not to keep agoat 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 mot be found, and the girl
was 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-
lowed 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 sever
al years, and was allowed to fly about
the rooms at will, often hopping
among the trinkets on the dressing
table off his mistress. The magistrate
who tried the case was inclined to be-
lieve the girls statement, and uliti-
mately decided that her accusers must
either permit the bird to be slaugh-
tered for the purpose of evidence or
withdraw the charge. After consid-
cradle argument the lady agreed to
the latter course and the girl was dis
charged.
A bird doctor who examined the
parrot 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 a
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 bad brought against her.
Another case Of an animals being
cut open to produce evidence took
place in Scotland in 1897. An errand
boy in a grocery store in Perth was
given ten-pound note by his en-
ployers to purchase FIVE shillings'
worth of stamps. The boy started
on his nilsson, accompanied by his dog,
a frisky, wire-haired terrier, named
Bob, but returned half an hour later
in great excitement saying that the
animal had snatched 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 or
der that portions of the note might be
recovered and his own innocene es-
tabiished, but this he refused saying
the little animal was the only friend
he had, and he wasn't ''going back
on him." He stoutly declared his
readiness to go to prison rather than
| Sacr1hce BOD.
His master, who was a kindly
Scotchman, consulted a veterinary,
who declared that he could examine
Bob's stomach without making him
forfeit his life, and when he had as
sured Bob's owner that the animal
would be all right in the course OF a
few days the boy gave his consent to
the operation. The dog was given an
anaesthetic, his stomach was cut open
and several portions of undigested
paper removed.
On analysis these proved to belong
to "banknote quality and the can
ny Scotchman having kept record
of fthe number of the note, an affidavit
was sworn and the money subse-
quently paid. The boy was promo
ted, Bob was soon running about a:
we'll as ever, and what had promised