COURT JUDGMENT

Greymouth Evening Star, 4 July 1938, Page 8

COURT JUDGMENT

ON CAT'S NINE LIVES ; It. is exactly a hundred years, says . the “Manchester Guardian,” since the t High Court gave a decision of importance to cats, involving, indeed, a determination from the highest authority against Hie theory that cats have nine lives. It arose in this way. A testatrix who had been deeply attached to her cat provided for it after death by leaving an annuity of £lO secured on a. sum of stock in order that it might have proper care so long as it lived. It was named Blucher. A case was brought in the Vice-Chancellor’s Court, which provided much merriment at the time. The cat, it was alleged, had died and the residuary legatee wished for the sanction of the Court for sotting free the stock which had been earmarked for the purpose of the annuity. An independent witness who had known the cat in life was prepared to swear that it. really was dead. But Bethell (afterwards Lord Chancellor Westbury) pointed out that the usual practice was to produce a | cert ificate of interment, which it. was impossible to show in this ease. The Registrar pointed out. that a more statement that a cat had died was not sufficient evidence. Everyone knew that a cat had nine lives; how could one be sure (without, a. burial certificate) that tho cat had not still eight, or fewer lives at its disposal; This might have been its first death. The Vice-Chancellor said that, he felt the weight of the objection but held that the cat. having once died, was to be considered for ever ’ “civiliter mortuus” ( as decently dead I as any other citizen) and not en- L titled to privileges greater than those j of a Christian. 1