The chronicle=news., 1914-07-23
CLASSIC PLEA FOR,
eoW1 MADE. BY
n. N N. ATTORNEYS j II iI|i|i ::';';

Santa Fc. N. M. July 23.-What
may be termed classic plea for the
COW, II not the appellee. in the case
of the State of New Mexico, nppell-
ant. VS.. Clarence Broken, appellee. Is
included in the latter's brief filed in
the state supreme court by Carlsbad
iattorneys. Their client was indict-
Ted for "unlawfully holding under
iherd in a certain pasture, twelve
calves OF neat cattle Of the value OF
ten dollars each, then and there by
interfering with the freedom OF said
calves. the said calves being the then
and there under the age OF seven
months. and not being young ami
mails accompanied by their mothers.
nor calves of milch COWS actually
used to furnish milk for household
purposes or for carrying on a dairy;
contrary to the form OF the statute
in such case made and provided. and
against the peace and dignity OF the
state OF New Mexico" The indict-
ment was quashed and the state ap-
pealed. .1I
Attorneys Armstrong and Bolts
come back at the state in the follow
ing manner: TOO much is made to
depend upon the COW. II she is gra-
cious enough to come forward at the
proper time and establish her claim
to the calf beyond reasonable doubt
and will thercupon suckle her disput-
ed offspring. all good and well; 9TH
lcrwise, 1t were better that that calf
had never been born. That the calf
might refuse to carry out its part OF
the necessary procedure seems never
!! to have been considered by the legis-
lature or, II considered, 1t was de-
termined that the same dire result
should follow the ownership of q
COW whose parental control was In
sufficient to compel absolute obed-
ience on the part OF her calf at the
time of the test. Discipline is good
thing. and without doubt. calves
should be held to the same implicit
obedience to their parents wishes
and commands as are the Offsprings
| of those being of supposed greater in
telligence. While recognizing the
probable application of the rule Ig-
norantia legis neminem excusat.' yet
We doubt II the average New Mexico
COW realizes her great responsibility.
I'VE love the COW; God bless her.
She furnishes US nourishment suit
able to our tastes and digestive, ca
vale of tears and, now that we are
older. provides the golden head to
four staff of HE and. when fees are
liberal and collections good, an oc-
casional T-bone or porter house. She
furnishes the sweet breath of kline
to the itincrant city dweller that
makes him long for tho simple life.
On many a. cold, frosty morning we
have warmed our bare feet where she
lhas lain during the night and on
summer evenings when the flies were
bad have whistled merry tunes to
the time of snpwwhite streams de-
scending into the shining bucket,
never falterins even when she would
wrap her tail lovingly about our
neck, although she was fresh from
IA green rye pasture. We have worked
for hours with q recalcitrant two
year-old who seemed to prefer the
old freedom to the restrictions OF a
matron, in an endeavor to persuade
lher to perform her maternal duties
to her first-born. and have been
compelled in the end to turn the
youngster over to the good graces OF
its grandmother, yet we never mur-
INJURED; and, while we would rather
trust ourselves to the charity. good
Judgment and kind heart OF some
cows we. have known than 70 the
narrowness of some OF their owners
or inspectors, yet 1t should be borne
in mind that the legislature has not
provided means Of selecting these
particular cows by popular vote, po-
llitical appointment or otherwise, and
I've cant belieye. that. ,fhder orr Or