New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-06-01

Animals charged with crimes and misdcmcanors were
always given the benefit Of counsel; ana these gentry,
then as now never hcsltatcd 90 draw upon al the re-
sources 81 professional ingenuity 10 rescue their clients
from the clutches Of Justice
One Of the most noted lawyers OF France in the SIN
tccnth century, ChasscneuX 10y name, owed much OF
his fame 10 the skill with which he handled the case OF
myriad OF charged with destroying the barley crop
Of an agricultural province Realizing that the rats
had bad case he first skirmishcd for delay and OBJ
tanned it, the plea that since the alleged deprcda-
tions occurred his clients had scattered over large
territory and II would take Tor the process servers
TO find and summon them On the adjourned day he
procured further postponcmcnt on the plea that the
rats though anxious 70 show their respect Tor the court
by oheying its mandate had failed 70 respond because
they were in fear Of their lives. The plaintiffs, he de-
carcd kept number of active and vigant cats, which
ready TO pOunCc upon any OF the rats that came
into the neghborhood If the court ready TO give
them an absolute guaranty OF safe conduct or the
plaintiffs prepared toput up satisfactory bonds for
the good behavior Of their cats, he thought he could
promise the prompt appearance Of his clients on the
next return day That the court seriously entertained
this plea and admitted its validity matter OF record;
and the against the rats appears 10 have gone over
indefinitely because OF the technical obstacles raised by
the defendants counsel.
Back Of the forms OF law employed for the judicial
punishment Of animals in odcn times lay the supcrst
ton that spirits OF evil entered and possessed the poor
creatures The New Testament story of the maniac
who miraculousy restored to his right mind, and
from whom the unClcan spirits passed into herd OF
sea- used TO be freely cited in support Of this concct
The ignorant pcasantry continually calling upon
their religious teachers drive away invading insects
and other pests that rendering waste their fields,
by ordering them to depart under pain OF eXcommunca
ton. The ecclesiastical courts, indeed, were those
which first took cogniZancc of the oenses of animals,
though it required the condemnation of a civil court TO
nhict the death penalty; but the religious idea under
lay everything connected with the civil proceed
ings shown in the OF pig brought to trial
for killing child, where its depravity proved by
its having eaten of its victims flesh in disregard
Of the fact that the day was Friday
WitchCraft particularly hcnous oenScin animals
not less than in human beings As late 1904, and in
our own beloved New England, dog was hanged
because he believed 10 have been ridden by wicked
sprite But the browning in this category was one
that occurred at Basel Switzerland in l474 where cock
indicted for wchcraft the specific accusation being
that contrary to the normal and righteous usage such
matters and by resort 10 necromanc arts and gifts he
had laid an egg. There was no evidence against him
except Of the circumsantia variety. Counsel for the
prisoner did not attempt TO overthrow the testimony;
but calmly admitted that his client had laid the egg
Still he pleaded evil intention had been proved and
evil results had followed. Besides, the laying OF
egg as everyone knew, involuntary act, and as
such punishable by law In spite of everything
the trial went against the poor cock, which was by
judgment Of the court, publicly burned at the stake in
an open square of the town and his discriminating egg
with him. II may have afforded some satisfaction TO
the pitful minority OF skepcs who refused 10 believe
the cock guilty that evidence to light later which