The Express. — 1867-10-16 (London, England)

PRIEST APTER PARSON; OR, BETTERING THE INSTRUCTION.—A Bucks Parson having been triumphantly acquitted by his local bench of the charge of cruelty to animals, for pouring turpentine over the hindquarters of a dog, a certain Priest (who is at the same time a publican, and let us add, presumably, a sinner) has (we learn from the papers), been charged with trying on the same game with a cat, and has also been acquitted—though we do not find that the bench endorsed their acquittal by a testimonial to the humanity of the accused, as they did in the case of the parson. What is sauce for goose is sauce for gander.. 11 lien Parson is allowed to turpentine a stray dog, Priest could hardly be punished for applying the same mild stimulant to an encroaching cat. But Priest ought to insist on the same measure from the bench as was meted by them to Parson, and may fairly complain that the magistrate., have not assured him, as they assured his prederiesaorParson, that he left the court without the slightest stain on his character for humanity. In this case, evidence was given that the cat went mad from pain, and that its owner, unable to endure the sight of its sufferings, drowned it. This Was premature, according to Turweston experience. The cat was not mad, only lively, and would soon have got over its turpsichorean excitement. Mr. Puria would beg leave to propose a new illustration of the odious law of comparisons for the Bucks unpaid, as follows :—Bench, Tarp-is ; Turweston Parson, Tarp-ior ; Hemel-Hempstead Priest, Turp-issimus. And would suggest, at the same time, on the authority of the Bucks unpaid, a new rendering of the stale Latin adage, Nemo repeute fait turpissimus—" Nobody need repent of using any quantity of turpentine "—on dog or cat. It is a vulgar error to suppose it hurts. It only blisters, burns, and scarifies. When Bucks Beaks and Bucks Priests and parsons are pachydermatous to satire, wrath, or ridicule, Bucks dogs and cats have no business to wince under turpentine.—Punch. A LEGION or Itars.—A few nights ago, a party belonging to Hadilington, who had occasion to travel be. tween Tranent and the burgh, found himself suddenly in the midst of a legion of rats, which were leisurely crossing the high road from one side to the other. The rats were too much occupied with their own concerns to pay any attention to the passer-by, who, though every moment expecting to he attacked, was allowed to move on unmolested. The rats seemed to be in thousands, and, from the direction they were taking, appeared bound for a neighbouring stackyard.—Hculdingfoil Courier. WINE Licawsra.—At the Liverpool police-court yesterday Victor Joseph Petitmangin applied for a transfer to him of the wine license formerly held by • person named Lambert. The feeling of the magistrates was evidently to refuse, in consequence of the applicant having incurred the displeasure of the bench when be kept a refreshment house in Lime-street, to which persons of immoral character resorted. Since then he had been conducting two public-houses in different parts of the town, against which there had been no complaint, and as the objection of the bench in this case did not lie within the scope of the act of parliament, they had no alternative but to grant the license, the act directing that " • license should be granted if there was no objection." In the course of yesterday afternoon bail was tendered on behalf of the prisoners Mace, who were immediately liberated. On leaving the court Jem Mace rushed quickly up Bow-street h. a very excited manner. The great crowd waiting outside the court, attracted by the examination of Groves on the charge of murder, were taken by surprise by Mace's curious behaviour, and soon set off in chase after him. However, it was soon discovered who he was, and the people returned to the station house in the hope of obtaining a glance of the alleged Fenian when talon away in the van.  ,