The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-09-15
INSPIRED ID VERSE BY DOG AND GOAT GOat-KiIIing Dogs Action Is Charged To Master JUDGE WEAVER RULES Big Crowd Comes In From Republic to See Adjustment of Case
 in Which Goat Lost
 It's Life.

If a man owned a dog and gave it to his mother, but that dog persisted in following him around and then caused trouble by killing a goat, the man is crlminally liable according to a decision handed down by Judge Samuel L. Wea- yer. in the second division of the crim- inal court.
 Another unique feature of this case was that the prosecuting attorney made. his argument entirely in rhyme, his words forming four verses of four lines each and not another word did he say. At the finish the judge quietly said, 'S5.0e," and the force of poetry in an argument was shown to be great
 Republic was the storm center of the goat killing episode and practically all of the population of that thriving town filled the second division court room when this case was called yesterday. J. w. Cottrell was the defendant, while William Scarlett made the charge, al- leging that the dog which followed Cot trell had killed his goat. Under the law, Cottrell was charged with keeping a. sheep-hlling dog, although 1t was further alleged that the dog took the life of a goat. F. D. Nabers was attorney for the prosecution, and it was he that re- sorted to poetry in plea for convic- ton.
 The killing in question happened some
 months ago, and Cottrell claimed that he had given the dog to his mother last
 February, prior to the murder of the goat. 1t was established to the satisfac-
 tion of the court, however, that the dog
 was often to be seen following in Cot
 trells wake, while the defendant admit
 ted that this had happened once in a
 while. But Judge Weaver sadly shook
 his head and ruled that the dog still
 claimed Cottrell as his master, while
 the defense failed to show that the dog
 had been advised that he no longer be-
 longed to Cottrell but was the prop
 erty of Cottrelrs mother.
 Attorney Nabers' charge was short and
 read:
 Cottrell had a sheep killing dog
 He said he gave it to his mother;
 But wherever you saw the one,
 You were bound to see the other.
 What makes the dog love Cottrell SC?
 The Republic people cry.
 Because Cottrell loves the dog you know,
 And that is the reason why Cottrell took the dog to walk one day, And the dog. he killed a goat,
 And nothing'd Cottrell after that But to jump right into the court.
 The dog follows Cot around all day,
 Although he says 1t belongs to his mother;
 But at night, when tired of running
 goats,
 He's at Cottrelrs house for cover.
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 pay regular tariff prices in competition with the trust, but all other business
 men were unfairly treated by this
 great corporate power. Dry goods men, hardware men, grocery men and every other man who deals in the necessities of life.
 "I have not been making my fight against the trust for money-if money
 had been all that l was after I could have had it when they wanted to buy
 us out. I have been fighting for 8 | principle and for Q right that Is guar anteed to every American citizen, the | right to life, liberty and the pursuit
 of happiness. With the help of Ameri-
 can citizens I have been successful
 and I want to say right here that you
 can trust the people of America to | settle their own affairs and settle tn em
 right when they are properly aroused to the real conditions that confront | them.'
 i MT. Hisgen then took up some of the | blanks of the independence party plat form which he declared would, if en-
 acted into law, serve to relieve the 1 great mass of people of the burdens
 which they are now compelled to carry.
 He Said that if the government was restored to the hands of the people and l that most of the serious difficulties
 would disappear.
 Graves is FIoWery. | MT. Graves opened, with the declara- tion: q love this Beautiful land-my | land now and forever. I shall always know this country as Gods country, for
 1t was blessed by the Almighty with more splendid foliage, more hea1thful climate
 and more splendid characters than were | ever gathered on natures bosom" 1 He paid a high tribute to Hearst, | claiming that his name will be written 1 in history as one of the greatest of the age. Then taking up Hisgen he commended him for honesty, integrity
  The independence party, he said, was the first to recognize the south, to fight t for a practical revision of faith, and reunited country. eff the south owes debt, God knows since the reconstruc- tion days we have paid that debt to democracy. The time has come when we must stand up in the light of in telligence and stand for our rights and purity in our government" MT. Graves pressed home the need for two parties in the south, insist ing that it would develop and educate the youth to see and hear both sides of political discussions. and that 1t would purify and elevate our avenues of politics; that democrats would never do in Georgia and Alabama what
 they do now. He condemned the Geor- gia legislature for spending thous- ands on an empty wrangling session of
 the legislature. while the inquitous con
 vict lease system is still a disgrace to the fair name of his state. He quoted Washington as having al ways protested that party spirit is the most dangerous thing for country. "rrhe time has come when we must stand face to face with our tremendous issues. not trail in the tracks of of Hceseek ers but stand for the democracy that carries us back to our fathers, leaving the ranks of party whose motto is anything to win and whose inconsistency and insincerity has car ried our faith so long"
 He "cussed" Tammany hall and Tom Taggert, "the gambler of French Lick springs" He "cussed" the republican party ready to fall by it's pillars stained with it's history" and then he enoka of his indenendence platform as