Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-05-30
CATTLE HAULED
BY NECKS FROM
VESSELS HOLD
REVOLVING TESTIMONY IN SAN
PEDRO CASE
THREE MEN ON TRIAL FOR AL,
LEGGED CRUELTY
Process Of Unloading Admitted by the
Defense--Anlmais Kicked and
Jerked by Tails While
StranaIIng

lnnuInan treatment ol COWS duu SleSio
in their transportation, loading and un-
loading from the island of San Gle
mente to San Pedro harbor was given
yesterday by the various witnesses for
the prosecution in the trial of Frank
Gonzales, Leland Gregory, John Kell-
| ner and Frank Benkert, charged with
| cruelty to animals and arraigned before
| Justice Harry Steiglitz in San Pedro
at 10 o'clock yesterday morning.
| Frank Gonzales, Mexican, who was
arrested with the others April on
the charge of lifting half-starved cat
tie from the hold of the schooner Edith
by means of rope tied about their
necks or heels, failed to materialize
and the bond of $100 which he had put
up for his appearance was FORFEITED.
1t was stated by Gonzales attorney,
w. J. Wood of the firm of Karr &
Wood, Los Angeles who also is de-
Tending the others, all of whom agreed
to be tried jointly. that Gonzales had
been misinformed as to the date of
the trial and was in San Clemente,
where 1t was impossible to reach him.
The other three men were present,
and after much discussion between At
torney Wood for the defense and Attor-
ney Rossiter for the prosecution, 1t was
agreed to try the cases together, but
to so segregate the testimony that the
defendants degrees of guilt, If any
was established, could be easily de-
cided and corresponding penalties i'm
posed.
Tells Convincing Story
Frank Evans Atwood of Los Angeles,
who caused the arrest of the four men
by Humane Officer Rombo of San Pc
dro, was the first witness called, and
although the defense endeavored to
fr,ca c7lcoaadad a
told a convincing story of cruelties
practiced in the unloading of the cat
| tie at the Southern Pacific wharf April
| and caused many of the women pres
| ent to shudder with horror.
He stated that the animals for the
greater part were in an almost dying
condition, their bones protruding, their
eyes sticking from their sockets and
filed with blood, as We're their mouths
and nostrlls he said, from the effects
of being lifted bodily high up by the
neck or heels.
This latter statement the prosecution
will attempt to disprove, 1t is claimed,
declaring the cattle were in good physi-
cal condition and that several have
been sold for beef since their arrival
in San Pedro; also that there was only
one COW which bled and that this was
in the hold of the vessel as a result
of having it's horn knocked off by con-
tact with the mast in chasing another
COW and not from the process of lift
ing 1t from the hold.
The statement that there was blood
in the eyes, ears, nose or mouth of
any of the animals except this one yes
terday was and will be further contra
dicted.
Admit Hanging Them
1t was admitted by the defense at the
H. A~.s. u 4
been lifted as alleged, except that the
rope had been put around the necks
only of the hornless cows-three in
number-and in all other instances
around the horns of the cattle except
when Mr.. Atwood had demanded that
some other method be adopted, threat
ening to cause the arrest of the boat s
crew, when, it was testified, the men
drew UP two or three animals by the
kinds hoofs, which process Captain
John Kellner, the negro in charge of
the unloading, declared he had consid-
cred more cruel than any other, and
had arbitrarily discontinued, return
ing in his sympathy" to the former
method of lifting them out by the necks.
Kellner's story in this respect was
somewhat mixed and was given in such
halting and evasive manner that 1t
carried little weight.
cution would admit they had seen over
three of the cattle lifted out by the
neck nor over three lifted out by the
hind foofs. All except Kellner, how
ever, who was the only witness for the
defense examined yesterday, and
Charles T. Smalley. Los Angeles ex-
pressman, who testified for the prose-
cution, admitted they had seen blood
trickling from the eyes, mouth and
krtIe <x4 he u.
general physical condition was revolt
ing. Several testified the cattle were
SO hungry they had eaten offal in the
corral
Lifted Fourteen Feet
1t was brought out that the hold of
the vessel is feet inches deep, 16
feet wide and % feet long. the craft
itself being a little over 80 feet long.
This information ELECTED testimony to
the effect that the animals had been
lifted bodily with their full weight on
their necks a height OF from twelve to |
fourteen feet. after which the animals,
1t was alleged. were jerked by the tail
or showed with poles to the portfolios, |
where they were dropped to the deck |
Then, according to the testimony of |
several Witnesses the cattle were |
kicked forcefully and beaten with a |
plank about 1x4 inches thick and A |
feet long, also py neaVy rope kuotted |
at the end, this treatment being de-
clared by witnesses necessary to
arouse many of the animals in their
weakened condition sufficiently to prod
them up the gangplank to the wharf, |
where they were corraled awaiting the
drive to their purchaser.
According to the testimony OF Mr.. |
and Mrs Atwood, Miss Maud Norris /
and Charles T.. Smalley, the animals |
xvara dronned down head, firsf IN tha
deck, when lifted out by the heels. and
were so weak from the long voyage
CONTINUED on Page Threel /