A CONCICT'S PET

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2229, 18 September 1889, Page 3

A CONCICT'S PET

A man giving tbs name of William Sbtimptott was charged at Bow Street Police Court lately, as a supervisee, with falling to raport himself to the poltoe under the provisions of his release after oonvlotton. Formal evidence only was flven by an official from Scotland Yard. fc tr»napfred that while the evidence was being glveo the defendant had m hia posaeialon a tsme moose. It was plaoed m his coat pocket, where it rested comfortably during the prooeedingi. On inquiry It was found that the prisoner had been Imprisoned for six months foe an asaanlt on the police. About a month after his imprisonment he was annoyed by a mome ondec hia pillow, and after an •ffoitfj extending for upwards of an hout and a half, he osught It. He did not kill It, bat gave it some portion of tne porridge that had been snpplled him for ■upper. Ht then conceived the idea of taming the mouse, and with the object Mho explained of ' 'making it more tame," be out off its tall nearly to the root. This he explained was an infallible remedy for the timing of mloc, aud he ■poke with pride of what he asserted to be ■ fact, that he was the only man who had succeeded In taming a "house mou«e," "Field mice had been tamed, and appeared to be more amenable to tuition. Having gained the oenfidenoe of the mouse he proceeded to teaoh it to little things, and conveyed it every mornIng at "exercise" time to the courtyard of the the prison m hia pooket. The fact aime to the knowledge of the Governor at flolioway, where the prisoner mi then Incarcerated, and he showed his kindness of heart by permitting the prisoner to retain what be had come to eegard *■ bis pet. Being !n a very delicate atate o£ health he was compelled tc remain m bll sell, and he declared that many an hour Dad passed pleasantly away with his conjj-aofon. As tbelr acqutiotance extended ike moose became daily more tame, and would at breakfast time take its place on a small bf nah, snob m v aapplied to the prisoner*, and would eat out of ita tsmec'i hand, The prisoner appeared tc be particularly attached to it, and out of a atsall piece of colored matting bad made it quite a tasteful little collar. During the day time it engaged Itself In , cleaning itself with ita paws. It would waroely leave Its tamer, and knew him ■o well that, although m a dark cell, when acoidentally dropped, It returned at the sound of hia voice. Its owner expressed come apprehension of losing hla pet, as he might be confined m another prison under a different governor. He was, , however, consoled by the assurance that laeh a course wonld not be adopted;