LEGAL METHOD OF KILLING RATS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11544, 1 December 1900, Page 2 (Supplement)

LEGAL METHOD OF KILLING RATS.

JURY DECIDES THAT POURING BOILING WATER ON THEM IS NOT CRUELTY.

A jury has decided that pouring boiling water on captive rats is not cruelty to animals, and that this method of disposing of the rodents, whics prevails in Russia, Spain, and Central America, can be used with impunity in San Francisco.

This decision was reached in the case of Alice Carranza, 15 years of age who was arrested on September 5 for killing a rat by scalding it. The defendant was represented by Attorney Armstrong, and Assistant District Attorney Weller conducted the prosecution.

Officers W. T. Hooper and Matthew McCurrie, of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, were the witnesses for the prosecution. They told how, after the manner of sleuths on a hot trail, they had posted themselves in a window overlooking the Carranza yard, and observed Alice as she appeared on the scene, humming a tune and carrying a kettle of boiling water. She nonchalantly proceeded to scald the rat in the cage to death, the rodent squealing in agony while life lasted. Alice's defence was that she had seen rats killed that way in Central America, and looked on it as a proper method because she had become accustomed to it there. In fact, she had never seen rats killed in any other way. The girl said she had pet Belgian hares and pigeons in the yard, and that the rats killed them. The premises were overrun with the rodents, she said. Alice denied that she sang while she poured the watei on the rats. She only sang at home and in church, she said. Mrs. Carranza said she told her daughter to kill the rats by use of boiling watei. Professor G. Wanrell testified that the hot liquid cure for the rat evil was in vogue in Russia and Spain. A. Fodera, the poultry dealer,, was called as an expert on the killing of fowls and small animals, and Armstrong asked him: "Is the fact that a rat squeals and jumps about in a trap while boiling water is being poured on it indicative of pain?" "No," interjected Weller, "it is a sign of pleasure." The question was not pressed after Weiler's remark, and the case was closed. After arguments of counsel the jury retired and in ten minutes returned with the verdict of acquittal.