The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1907-06-02
THE KING CAN Do NO WRONG
The City Courts Ruling in Horse
Case from Laborer's Standpoint.
(To The Caucasian)

|
After reading an article in your paper
headed Cruelty to Animals" in which
we find the judge of the City Court
fined a negro driver $40 for cruelty to
a horse and dismissed the owners of the
horse who hired the negro to drive it.
We feel like drawing a pen picture of
;he case as we see 1t. We have no per
| sonal interest i'll the case. or no more
han any other citizen should have. but
we appreciate the liberty of the press
and believe we will outline that liberty
| and should enjoy it while it lasts. As
we understand, the following testimony
vas produced in the City Court. Judge
Webb presiding: A horse owned by +.
| NJ. and w. A. Kelly. while being driven.
| hltched to a wagon. fell on the street in
"a helpless condition Respectable citi-
zens swore that the horse was almost
skeleton or a living frame, and the
horses back and shoulders were in such
condition that harness would cause the
animal to suffer. A witness for the de-
Tense swore the horse was in a healthy
condition and could be worked without
causing any suffering.
We know something of the Kelly bus
mess methods: there is not business
firm or an individual in the CITY of
Shreveport that is more attentive to
business than the defendants in the
above mentioned case. The Kellys know
the condition of every animal they own,
and know the amount and kind of serv-
ice every employe renders them; they
have the following sign on one or more
of their wagons: I'VE never sleep"
They do not depend on superintendent
and foremen but attend to their business
personally. When the negro took the
horse from the stable he was not seek
ing pleasure but working for money. If
Mr.. Kelly had not hired him he would
not have driven the horse, and it is not
customary for driver to select the
horse he wants to drive, but to take the
one the boss tells him to drive Does
any one believe jury could be empan-
eled in this State which could be led to
believe healthy horse, in good working
order, could have been reduced to the
condition in which Messrs kely's ami
NAL fell in by few hours driving OF
a hot day? Does any one believe there
is case on any court record where
man was hired to violate law. and the
employer dismissed and the employe
punished? Since the dawn of history
people have been taught that 1.-THE king
can do no wrong" We are supposed
to live iii republic; but all well in
formed people realize that money is our
king and every mans power is meas
ured by the amount of money at is COM
nand. Expert testimony is becoming 50
popular i'll our courts that it can be used |
in any kind of case where the king can
the expert.
Since Judge Webb's appointment we
believe his record has been one that is |
IN honor to his name. but every one is
subject to mistakes and we believe the |
-uling i'll the above mentioned case was |
mistake. If the animal was in the |
the reputable citizens swore it |
was i'll, the driver should have been
ined or punished for driving it. and the
owners should have been fined for hir-
ng the driver to drive such animal |
There can be no excuse in this city for
hiring or being hired to violate law. If
he animal was in the condition the
medical expert swore it was in, it must |
lave been a case of heart failure Or APP
'endicitis and no one should have been
lned.
If the future cases of cruelty to ami
nails are to be decided as the Kelly case,
We suggest that the society to prevent
ruelty to animals to organize a society
o dispense justice to every one in the
anne measure. A LABORER.