MENAGERIE IN A MANSION

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 110, 11 May 1935, Page 25

MENAGERIE IN A MANSION

What wai described as. a "surprising menagerie" in the house of the daughter of a peer figured in a 'case at Bromley (Kent) recently, states the "Daily Telegraph." It was stated that 48 dogs, 27. cats, 100 birds;'l7 monkeys, a goat, rabbits, and other animals occupied bedrooms and\living rooms'. '

The' Hen; Mrs. Alice McLaren, Morrison,- eldest daughter of the late Lord Pirbright, who. is in. her 70th year, appeared oh summonses alleging that she kept 40 dogs without licences, and that unnecessary suffering was caused to the above-mentioned, animals and birds by unreasonably omitting to provide them With proper, and necessary care and attention. She pleaded not guilty.

Mr. Gordon Jones, for the R.S.P.C.A., said Mrs. Morrison was a woman of social position and he understood of some substance, and lived in a large house.

He did not suggest she had cruel instincts or would be unnecessarily cruel in the sense of inflicting deliberate suffering on animals. At the same time, she had only herself to blame for what had happened. She had most extraordinary views on the treatment of animals. She would disregard advice from outside and had deliberately flouted the attempts of the R.S.P.OA. to advise her.

On February 4 inspectors of the society and others visited the house in consequence of a complaint by an employee. Mrs. Morrison was away at the time.

They went.through various rooms and found about 50 dogs, 27 cats, 100 birds, 17 monkeys, one goat, numerous guinea pigs and rabbits, and a.-few other animals occupying bedrooms and living rooms. There were cats in a bedroom with bed linen in it. ,

These animals were in a grossly neglected condition.. Some of the dogs were as bald as billiard balls, and some had inflamed patches on their bodies. The condition of the cats did not appear to be so bad, though they, like the monkeys,.appeared to be miserable.

The windows and doors of the rooms were closed, gome ' oJE the- windows being hermetically sealed. Electric and coal fires were burning day and night, and the atmosphere was almost unbreathable and really indescribable.

He (Mr. Jones) was not suggesting any underfeeding. Eather there was overfeeding,' because he understood some (of the cats were provided with roast "chicken."i v"' 'X "i ■'•;'. :

Two veterinary- surgeons who' were found the animals suffering from lack of exercise. Some of them were suffering:from skin diseases.

Another inspector described the condition of the" animals and the rooms. On February 11 he saw Mrs. Morrison, Who skid: "Well what's the matter now?" He told her his complaint and she replied:

I "Why, I took three first prizes at Cruf t's last week with a pair of dogs. You cannot do that with neglected dogs. I have been an importer for 40 years, and I am a member of Our Dumb Friends' League, so I should know. The trouble is I cannot get these large rooms warm enough. All these animals come from warm' Climates, and if you take them out in the open they will die." > • • •

In reply to Mr. F. R. Nott (for the defence), the Inspector Said 22 of the animals were in a fair condition, but most of them were wretched in the extreme, and some hot fit to be kept alive.

A woman who was engaged as a kennel maid by Mrs. Morrison, said she took exception to the filthy condition of the rooms. She remained about a week. Most of the dogs were filthy and suffering from a skin disease. Many cats had mange and were not fit for human beings to touch.

Mrs. Morrison, she added, kept some dogs, a cat, and a parakeet in her bedroom. When witness had been there about a week she had a sore throat, which site attributed to the stench in the house, and she complained to the R.S.P.OA.

Mrs. Morrison, giving evidence, said she took Kemnal Manor for the sake of her animals, because her residence ih' Bayswater was unsuitable. She had" a butler, a manager, a secretary, a kennel boy, a kennel man, and a kennel maid.

She/agreed that some of the rooms were not as clean as they might have been, but she was not satisfied with her kennel staff at that time.

She was an original exhibitor of Japanese spaniels in England, had been a club judge, and was one of the founders of the Ladies' Kennel Association. She was also on the Grand Council of Our Dumb Friends' League. ■ . . .

Mr. Gordon Jones:. What is your object in keening so many animals in your house?— Because of my love for animals. Since I became a widow, and had other bereavements,- animals were the only things I lived for. I give my life to them. When I lived in Bayswater I used to take in all the strays of the district.

Witness,added that the cats were all show cats. Among them was the champion of 'England, which won. three first prizess in three -days;

A veterinary surgeon- who ' visited ,the kennels, said he\foundthe dogs in ve^y good condition. The general appearance of the place was clean. !The chairman said that the justices had no hesitation in convicting Mrs. Morrison for causing unnecessary suffering to the animals. She was fined £.10, and ordered to'pay five guineas COStS. : .''-.■