The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-07-29
Policeman John Duffy Kills
Both Animals After Thrill
ing Experience
FELINE IS SHOT
IN NICK OF TIME
Leaps at Patrolman's Face and
Latter Ducks Head, Barely
OVERWHELMINGLY Own
ed by Neighbors.

Screaming women, terrified children
and hlanch- faced men in the neigh
borhood of Eighth and Leigh streets
were saved from two hydrophohia vic
tims--a frothng collie dog and rabid
cat-early Friday morning, when Po-
liceman John Duffy with two bullets
from his revolver killed the craxed ami
mails and ended reign OF terror OF
more than two hours duration.
The cat. the property OF Mira. L.
IL Parkinson, of sos East Leigh street.
was bitten by supposedly mad dog
about one week ago. Early Friday
morning. while breakfast waS being
prepared, the feline began TO run
about the kitchen bowling. A mo-
ment later 1t began to froth at the
mouth. After rushing madly about
the kitchen several times, leaping in
the air, and clawing fiercely at chairs.
It ieaped through a window into the
back yard. There it leaped on a fence.
back to the ground. up a small tree.
then jumped over to a wood shed, and
then back to the ground. All this time
1t howled, frothed at the mouth, claw
ed at the air and bit at itself.
The terrified screams of Mrs. Park
inson attracted a large crowd OF neigh-
bors. who. rushing to rear windows.
watched the cat as with blazing eyes
and distended. sporadically swapping
jaws II leaped wildly about the yard.
Soon the entire peighborhood was In
Juror of terror. No one ventured
outdoors. for none knew when the cat
might leave the yard
Finally some one telephoned to the
first precinct and Policeman Duffy was
Eeut TO the scene. Arriving. he found
the cat eTouehing. emitting terrible
wild nowls. Despite the protests OF
onlookers. Duffy went out in the yard.
revolver In hand Before he could get
close enough to make his aim sure
the cat sprang at his face He duck
ed and the animal sailed over his head.
The cat did not land squarely on it,
| feet. but soon gather ITSELF toxethsr
with eyeG blazing in smother Sourcf.
Before 1t sprang second TINS Du6y
shot. His bullet went home and the
cat, its heart pierced almost In the
moment of leaping, fell over. dead.
The policeman was still receiving
the thanks 70 the residents when .
new outburst of screams from women
and children arose Neighbors Or
Mrs. Parkinson, en- route to her house
to look at the dead cat, noticed that
the collie dog in the front yard Of
So7 East Leigh street. occupied by
Mrs James and Mrs. Pritchett. wa1
also frothing at the mouth. There
followed another scarnperfng within
doors as the dog. painting deeply and
audibly trotted about the enclosed
yard, with fiicks OF foam dripping
from his jaws
Policeman DUFFY says he 10 not cer~
tain that the dog was actually suffer-
| ing from rabies, but the owners OF this
animal thinking it quite possible It
might have been scatched or bitten by
the mad cat next door. and wishing
| to take no chances, insisted that II be
| killed,
This time there was but littie
trouble. The dog made small effort
| TO get away from the policeman gum
and a moment later the collie wAa
dead, with q bullet in it's brain.
Policeman Duffy, in describing hia
experiences. says there IL no doubt IN
his mind but that the cat was mad.
| The dog, he says, might have been
too. but that cat" said he. Il almost
| tremble when I think what might
have happened to me IL i had missed
that shot.