Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1913-06-13
GUILTY AS CHARGED" IS VERDICT
IN CRUELTY TO ANIMALS CASE
Rhoda NJ White and Marjorie johnson Found
Guilty ana FINED One Dollar and Costs
Case Has Been Appealed

Rhoda M. White, dean of women at
the Washington State College, and
Miss Marjorie Johnson, her assistant
IN the work, were Tuesday found
guilty in Justice George Henry's
court of cruelty to animals, and each
was assessed the minimum fine of 81
and costs. The case attracted wide
interest because of the prominence of
the defendants, and the council
chamber was crowded during the en-
tire trial, which lasted from 2 o'clock
in the afternoon until II O'Clock at
night, when the case went to the jury.
large part of the spectators were
ladies', who had been attracted to the
trial through personal interest in the
case. The costs of the trial amount
ed to $92.
The case was brought by John L.
Erwin, proprietor of the Palace livery
stable, who charged the defendants
with having cruelty overdriven and
beaten single driving horse,
"Ruply," owned by himself, and
driven by the defendants on Decora-
ton Day, May 80. The horse died at
Staley about seven miles east of Pull
man, after having been driven to Wa
wawai, and from there to Staley, by
the ladies'. Originally separate
charges had been preferred against
each of the defendants, but these
we're consolidated for the purpose of
facilitating the trial by mutual con-
sent of Attorney ID. C. Dow, who ap-
peared for the state, and John w.
Mathews, who represented the de-
PENDANTS. The case was tried before
jury of six men, Lee Lampson, w.
L. Greenawalt, J. N. Emerson, u. G.
Lawler, l.. A. Manring and K. G. Gill
being selected for that purpose
Will Appeal Case
Immediately upon the return of
the verdict of guilty" by the jury
Attorney Mathews served notice of
an appeal to the superior court. A
civil suit to collect $500 from the
defendants for the loss of the horse,
together with $25 for burial expenses
and veterinary fees, has also been
started by Mr.. Erwin, and this will
DC tried in the superior court at Col
lax, probably during the October
term of court.
After Attorney Dow had read the
section of the statutes covering cru
city to animals, he stated the title
OF the case and read the warrants,
and the long grind of testimony was
On John L. Erwin, owner of the
morse, was the first witness called by
the state He stated, in answer to
questions by the attorneys, that he
nae owned the animal since Decem-
yer /, 1912, that it's weight was in
the neighborhood of 100 pounds,
ana that he had considered it sound
~ every respect. He testified that
ne mad never hired out single horse
lor trip to the river.
How the Horse Was Hired
~ Il. Stillings, an employee of Mr..
Erwin, from whom the defendants
are said to have rented the horse, tes-
uiieo that he was called on the tele-
pune by Miss Johnson about 10
CLOCK on the morning of May 30,
ana That the defendant asked the hire
u a single driver from IL until 6
Veiock' stating that she wanted to
S'ise around town and into the coun-
Ny little. He testified that the
Nurse Ruply" was delivered to the
MO defendants at Stevens hall about
40, and that Miss Johnson asked
mere the whip was, he telling her
,4al sae did not need whip and ask
Ae her not to overdrive the horse.
"a reply to questions propounded by
a'torney Mathews the witness testi-
Aeu That lots of women have no idea
anal they are doing" stating that as
.oon as the defendants had secured
NC morse he placed them in the class
tnose who do not know how to
auuie horses. He testified further
nat the first he heard of the condi-
aOn OF the horse was at 7:45 in the
enihg when one of the defendants
,ephoned to him and asked him to
ing conveyance for them, and
'eW minutes later calling him
sam and asking him to send vet
marian to care for the animal and
~, automobile to bring them in as
4sA White had an important en-