CAT’S LIFE WAS ENDED SUDDENLY AT DINNER TABLE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 14, Issue 95, 8 February 1950, Page 5

CAT’S LIFE WAS ENDED SUDDENLY AT DINNER TABLE

Continually annoyed by a tom cat of which he had a deep suspicion was stealing some of his prize chickens George Washer senior, Whakatane, finally decided to remove the cat once and for all when he caught the animal feeding on his dinner one night. He grabbed a .22 rifle and “dropped the cat” but complaints were made by neighbours to the police and when he appeared before Mr E. L: Walton, S.M., in the Whakatane Magistrate’s Court yesterday he was convicted and fined 10s, costs 10s, for unlawfully discharging a firearm in the borough. On a further charge of being in possession of a rifle without a permit he was fined 10s, costs 10s. Expensive Good Turn

Vernon Timbs, butcher, Whakatane, thought he was doing Washer a good turn when he loaned him the rifle but he was also convicted and fined 10s, costs 10s, for delivering a' firearm to an unauthorised person. Washer said that he had been annoyed by the cat for some time and had caught it stealing one of his prize chickens. One night he was called from a meal to answer "the telephone and when he returned he had caught the animal eating his dinner. He had then shot it.

For - the police Senior-sergeant Fuller said complaints had been received from neighbours after the rifle had been fired. Accused had apparently often been worried by The cat and had taken this method •of removing the animal.