A Winged Cat in Court.

Manawatu Herald, 24 August 1893, Page 3

A Winged Cat in Court.

Monstrosity-mongers and other showmen from Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, Sheffield, and other parts of the country, crowded the Leeds County Court, awaiting the result of a trial which was to decide the ownership of a cat. The animal had for some weeks previously, attracted to the house of a navvy named Benjamin Martin, living in Tong road, Armley, many thousands of people because of its remarkable appearance. The cat is an abnormally large specimen of the Persian breed, of a yellowish colour ; but its great peculiarity is that from its loins grow wings resembling in shape those of a duck. The wings measure eight inches from tip to tip, and have been pronounced by experts to be genuine growths from the loins. Mr William Markham, a relieving officer from the B ram ley Union, sought to establish the fact that the cat was his property, and produced a number of witnesses, who said that they had seen it in his house. Pluinfciff said that he had frequently clipped the hair off the cat to " make it look more symmetrical."—Mr Dunn (for the plaintiff : Is it true that its grandfather belongs to royalty ?— Witness : Yes; he belongs to Princess Beatrice's husband. (Loud laughter.) — His Honour Judge Gieenhow gave a verdict for the plaintiff, and the interesting monstrosity was thereupon handed over.