The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-10-01
15 ~ k3IEEA f,
TRY 70 ...MISLEAD
HUMANE SOCIETY
PERSONS y MAKE COMPLAINTS
WITHOUT FOUNDATION. Il
Reports of Cruelty Both to Animals and
Children Are Made as Result of Spite,
Social or Political Differences or
Neighborhcod Trouble, and Much
Time Is Wasted Investigating Them.

A telephone report Of a most aggra-
waited case of child beating was made
to the humane society yesterday. Inc
story of the parents alleged cruelty was
such that one Of the soelety's agents
was sent Immediately to the address IN
Southeast Minneapolis. Upon arriving
the agent was, surprised to find beau
tifully kept home with most peaceful
atmosphere. Becoming suspicious OF the
report, she went to the neighbors and
made inquiries. None knew OF any
child beating and careful search devel-
oped the fact that the report had been
made by an enemy of the family and
was simply the result of spite.
ssThat's what we have to contend
with continually said one of the So
ciety workers in discussing the case.
! Report after report of cruelty, both
to animals and children, is made to our
office without any foundation of truth
and simply as the result of spite or OF
some neighborhood troub People
seem to think that our society is a ma ma
chine to help them in getting even with
their enemies and this makes our work
! doubly hard. Every case reported re-
quires careful investigation and great
deal Of our time is taken up in looking
/ into cases where there is absolutely no
excuse for interference.
"We have made rule that no report
Is to be given any credence unless the
complainant gives his name and address,
Even SO, fictitious names are the easiest
things in the world to give over the
telephone and I think we shall have to
refuse to take reports over the phone
at all. If people are interested enough
to make complaints they should be will
ling to stand up and prove their acccu
sations.
GAS the result Of false accusations
and Investigations we have had severa
lawsuits threatened and in severa
! GASES lawyers have been actually re
tanned and suits brought and settled
our informants, but when we are con
WINGED that there was any malicious
motive behind the information we be
lieve it is but simple justice to the PEG
pie complained of to tell them who has
complained.
cit is surprising to see the petit,
things that cause people to make mall
cious reports. Social differences, pc
1itical disputes and jealousy are -amon|
| the most prolific causes of false reports
With an average of about fifteen case
reported each day it will be readily see
that we have no time to waste On falls
reports, and they make us an endles
amount Of trouble, taking our time ava
from cases where it is greatly needed
and seriously impairing our usefulness
! "Recently we have discovered tina
some people have not been satisfied wit
making false reports to us, but hav
gone 50 far as to impersonate or &C
Some stranger to impersonate human
society officers and call on their; EN-
mics simply to make them trouble:
was called on case only a few day
ago and the woman Of the house sale
why, one of your agents has called he1
twice about this matter. l can't unde
en- I asked the description Of II
agent and it was no one in our offic
We are looking up this case and fe
others and if we can find the imperso
ators it will go hard with them.'