KILLING A CAT

Hokitika Guardian, 27 February 1928, Page 4

KILLING A CAT

LONDON, Jiii). 2. Dr George Dunhice Eccies, deputy medical superintendent <d tDo Bermondsey Hospital, Lower road, Hot!:erliitlier, S.K., and Dr Kenneth Noel Parkis were summoned l>y -tile R.S.P.C.A. iit Tower Bridge yesterday for cruelty to ilie hospital int. Mr Gordon .Tones, prosecuting, said there wits a very docile cat which had been at the hospital for three years. There was a messrooni in which men: hers of the staff coming home late at night could find light refreshment laid out for them. On November 27 the messrooni was found iu considerable disorder. The table had a castor off. the couch was disarranged, and the whole room bore evidence of a violent and prolonged struggle. BLOODSTAINED WALL. Not only was the furniture disar-

ranged and the cups and saucers broken, but also all over the room were bloodstains—on the wall, on the carpet, and on the wireless set. The fireirons were bent and the hopital cat was missing. The medical superintendent held an inquiry and Dr Purlcis said he found some sandwiches eaten by the cat ivhich had got underneath some furniture. It became very wild, and as he thought the best thing to do was to till the animal he did so. The cat's body was found in some ;hrubs outside the hospital, and an xaminntion revealed terrible injuries, ncluding a broken shoulder-blade. A

veterinary surgeon said the animal died from shock. “LOST TEMPERS.” Mr Gordon Jones said he submitted that what had happened was thn r. these two doctors c-anie home late at night,'found the cat almost in rm act of taking their sandwiches, and chased. The cat, in its fright turned and scratched one of them, and they lost their tempers and then, in the dead of night, without any interference whatever, they beat the wretched animal. It might be said that their intention was to kill the cat, but intention was not a defence. If there was cruelty it did not matter what the motive might he. Dr Robert Hartley, medical superintendent of the hospital, said lie had known the ginger cat for over three years. It was a timid animal, ard after lie had seen the messrcom lie held an inquiry. Dr Turkis said that when the cat attacked Dr Redes they killed it as mericfully as they con'd AFTER. A DANCE. Dr Kcclcs, giving evidence, saw. he had been assistant medical superintendent at the hospital for to years. He had been !o a dance at Knightsbridge that evening with his wife and Dr and Mrs Purkis. leaving Mere about 3.15 a.m. 'When he tried to pick up the sandwiches on "-lie floor of the mes'srcom at 4 a.m. the >'nt sprang out from underneath a sofa and attacked his hand. The cat looked mad, and for the sake of the inmates lie made up his mind that it must he killed. The cat had loin o!f one of Iris finger-nails and had scratched his hand so severely that lie had it wrapped in surgical dessings for a fortnight. Dr Purkis gave similar evidence. Mr Tassel 1, the magistrate, said the story was a very, very oxtraordinaiy one. It, was urged that the cat be trail it. Wliat lie bad to consider was whether the doctors had taken the most merciful way of killing the cat.