The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-01-01
PUBLIC OPINION
o q q o . 8 o q o o . o 90 o o .

= y y y ~ " " - 4
Shocking Brutality.
To the Editor of The Gate City:
This morning, at the corner of
Third and Fulton streets, an ,n-
nluzzled dog was killed by the
dog-killer.
The above item appearing In satur-
days paper is but graceful way OF
mentioning q disgraceful and horrible
affair. II based on actual facts, the
article should have been as follows:
Saturday morning, the residents
near Third and Fulton. mostly wom-
en- and children, were made unwilling
witnesses to an act the wanton
cold-blooded and degraded nature OF
which has rarely been experienced in
a community claiming some sense of
responsibility. 1t is true, that a
person bearing the title Of "dog-killer.
did shoot dog, as cited-but as for
killing the animal, he came far from
| it, instead strolling away, and leaving
it in the street. bowling and struggling
! in terrible agony, with Its head part
ly shot away. The owner of the dog,
has large lot enclosed by an iron
fence, high enough to contine an
ordinary dog. He owned high-bred
shepherd, which was playmate for
all the children of the neighborhood,
who gathered In the lot and romped
with him by the hour. Saturday morn
ing, the dog was In this lot, muzzled
according to mandate. Evidently,
after the children had left the en-
| closure. he worked the muzzle off, and
climbed or crawled over the fence.
| He was discovered in the front yard of
his owner, at the same time as the
dog-killer appeared on the opposite
side of the street. Appearances indi-
cate that the latter called the dog, as
lit was seen to leave its own yard, and
walk across toward the killer" wag-
/ ging its tail in manner expressive
Iof dog friendliness and confidence.
! When but pace or two distant, and
while looking UP inquiringly into the
| face of the slaughterer, it was greeted
with a full load OF shot, direct in the
mouth. With cry of agony, the ami
NAL huddled down about the knees of
the butcher, who cast him aside and
went on. The whole performance had
been witnessed by the crowd OF little
4 tots, playing near, and by the wife Of
4 the dogs owner, who had rushed to
the door upon seeing it cross the
street. She was an instant too late.
Calling to the person dressed in mans
CLOTHES she had to demand that he re-
turn to finish his job. He strolled
back, and at close rang gave the AMI
mA the second charge, full in the
flaw, and without word passed on.
q Before getting out of sight, the dog
/ set up bowling and moaning, that
drew people from their houses nearly
a block away. A business man was
|telephoned, after ten minutes, to see
If something could not be done by
someone, to put the dog out OF it's
agony, and relieve those within hear.
ing of its pitiable means and cries
This man went to the scene, over halt
. mile away, found the dog still lying
in commissions of pain, with its Jaw
shot half away, and a great hole
blown through its mouth, occasionally
regaining sufficient strength to utter
weak moan, and mutely pleading fol
death Shortly after, a policeman ar
rived, and put 1t out of its misery
Some time later in the forenoon. the
carcass was removed, meantime lying
lin the public highway, in pool Q,
blood, with great splotches scattered
: in a radius of several feet over the
sidewalk and curbing. Thus 1t con
tined the edifying and successful
campaign of rescuing the public from
!, 1.-THE ravages of wild mad beasts.
II is incomprehensible that self
: respecting community would permit
continuation Of such proceedings.
1t cannot possibly be, that it is al
depression Of Keokuk public sentimen
that rules should be enforced, making
: possible, such horrible exhibitions al
4 was this affair, to shed its degradin!
q influence upon school children ant
: those younger.
g Rather, 1t must be. that public sent
: ment Is elevated enough. that the cit
y zens will join in the demand, that III
L muzzled dogs be taken up, and re
) moved to some secluded enclosure
S before being killed, and that 1T b
L done in a humane manner, not by hay
e ing their brains blown out, ana sea-
}, tered over the public streets and side
5. walks. to the sickening horror of al
who may come into contact with tn
affair. but In a way inoffensiye t
common decency. vIDI.