BITTEN BY A LION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17276, 27 September 1919, Page 2 (Supplement)

BITTEN BY A LION.

SOLDIER'S FOOLHARDINESS.

A soldier who lost his arm as the result of being bitten on the hand by a lion at a travelling menagerie at Birkenhead, England. on New Year's Eve, lost an action for damages against the showman, Mr. P. Collins. Plaintiff's case was that he slipped near the lion's cage and fell against the rope barrier. It was alleged that this was not an adequate protection, and that he swayed toward" the ctge, put out his left arm for protection, and his hand went into the cage. A lion seized and mauled it. Blood poisoning super vened. and his arm was amputated. He denied having teased the animals or tried to pat them. For the defence 3 lady said plaintiff got under the rope barrier, which was of the usual tvpe, and put his against the cage. The next thing she saw was the lion biting his hand. Another lady said she heard plaintiff say he had seen lions before and he was not frightened of them. Judgment «as given for the defendant, the judge expressing the opinion that plaintiff lost his arm through foolhardiness.