The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1912-08-03
CAN LOBSTER
Be CRUELTY .
TREATED?
(By Associated Press.)

Philadelphia, Pa, Aug 3,-John
Hardouceau, chef in a local cafe,
was arraigned today. charged with
cruelty to a lobster, but as Philadel-
| phia lawyers could not decide wheth-
er a lobster can be cruelty treated
the case went over until Aug. g.,
| when experts will be called to en-
| tighten the magistrate.
The charge was made by the
Women's Society for the Prevention
of Cruelty to Animals, because the
chef placed a wooden spike in the
first joint back of the claw of lob
ster on exhibition in the window of
qafe. According to the lawyer en-
gaged by the chef to defend him, the
spiking of Holsters is common prac-
tice to keep them from swapping.
When the case was called the
magistrate at first decided that
lobster was not an animal, and that
there was no law against cruelty to
Holsters. After a warm argument
the magistrate decided to ask ex-
perts to help him when the case is
resumed.
Cruelty to lobsters?" observed
Flossie La We're, who probably has
rad as much experience with both
varieties of the species as any who
trip the light fantastic for a living.
What are you trying to do, kid me-
Whoever heard of such charge?
Who'd be cruel to a lobster, anyway?
] should say not. OF course, you have
to bawl 'em out good and proper once
in while just to get along, but most
Of em that l know are dandy good
fellows and are there with the 'kale.
This was the reply shot back when
Miss La We're was asked for an opin-
ion on a case in Philadelphia yester-
day, when chef was arraigned on a
charge of cruelty to a lobster pre-
ferred by an agent of the Women's
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty
10 Animals. John Hardcuceau, the
chef, had "hobbled" or spiked" all
lobster by inserting a wooden peg in |
Lhe first joint back of a claw to keep
It from swapping.
The court at first decided that a |
lobster was not an animal, but after |
, lengthy argument between counsel |
ne case finally was continued until |
August s, to give experts time to de- |
{ rhine whether lobster is bug or |
~ animal.
Zee lobstair, eet ees not boog, |
jaid Jean Lefevre, waiter in a loop |
restaurant. "Eet is what you call sea |
Uod. Eet is like zee shrimp. Eet
lalf no pain. One cannot be cruel to
zee feesh. Zey boil him alive'
George A. Fl. Scott, secretary of
A. ntr
old of the case in Philadelphia, said
hat he would prosecute any person
ound being cruel to a lobster in Chi
ago. He said:
Turtles have been classified as
lnimals by New York court, and |
hink Holsters will come under the
anne head. A captain OF ship who
ecently took a load of turtles to New
York from Havana was prosecuted
nd fined for tying the animals by
heir legs to the deck We won a
ase here In Chicago against a man
Nho chained chameleons. and
would prosecute any person who spik-
d a lobster"
Il never heard of hobbling a lob
ter, though | know lot who ought
o be muzzled," said Bertha Munson, {
ehearsing with the chorus of local
reduction. Il think all Holsters are
Jugs, though III admit they are fish
or the chorus girls. Oh, you mean
hese kind you eat. Why, of course,
hey're not bugs. The idea! They're
God, and good food, too believe me-"
Whereupon the reporter rushed to
he arms of old Noah Webster and
ound that lobster" is the common
ame of the macrurous, decapodous,
talk-eyed crustaceans belonging to
he genus homarus."