TRIED—CONVICTEDBURIED.

Otago Witness, Issue 3590, 2 January 1923, Page 10

TRIED—CONVICTED—BURIED.

Our indebtedness to contributions in Hoard’s Dairyman for many a good thing, has from time to time been acknowledged with thanks. None more so than when the scrub bull was the subject of incisive comment, and pilloried as one contributing to the inefficiency of dairymen. The scrub bull has been on trial, we are informed, all over the country, he was tried at the county fair at Petaluma, California. The prisoner was a fairly good-looking bull, says Noel Negley, University of California, but he had no ability to increase the production of his daughters over their dams, hence was typical of the class that is holding back profits from Californian dairymen. The grand jury voted a true bill against the said scrub —i—cuss Bull.—• i—cuss. The clerk of the court read the complaint as under : Complaint—Criminal— In the Superior Court of the State of California, in ana for the sections of Sonoma—Marin. The Dairymen. of Sonoma—Marin Section, plaintiffs, vs. Scrub Bull, Defendant. Plaintiff’s claim of defendant and for cause of action allege:— 1. That the plaintiffs are bona fide residents of the section of Sonoma —-Marin, State of California, and by occupation, dairymen. 2. That the defendant is one of the animals, Scrubiferous Bovinus, which resembles the Holstein family of cattle, but which he is not as shown by his colour markings. 3. That the defendant is the leader of a gang of robbers which operate throughout the Sonoma —Marin dairy section. 4. That the defendant and his kind have been carrying on their thieving operations in this section as long as man can remember. 5. That the defendant works in a very underhand and subtle way, stealing money from every dairyman who has common cows, robbing the unsuspecting, the careless, and the ignorant alike. 6. That the defendant lowers all breeds of cattle he comes in contact with by bringing into their progeny blood of unknown and poor quality. 7. That every country like our own subject to the ravages of him and his kina is in a less prosperous condition than it would be if all the dairymen had good pure-bred dairy bulls. All of which is contrary to good dairy practice in such cases made and provided, and against the peace and prosperity of the dairymen of the Sonoma —Marin section. Said complainant, therefore, prays that verdict of guilty may be brought in against said scrub bull, and that he- may be meted out the death penalty. M. B. Boissevain, Plaintiff. Subscribed and sworn to before me this seventh day of August, 1922 A.D. j. Doe, Notary Public in and for the State of California. The plaintiff led evidence showing losses and hardships incurred by those who have been using scrub bulls, and contrasted the very moderate incomes received for butter-fat from creameries as against the greatly increased incomes received bv those dairymen using good pure-bred bulls. In defence of the scrub bull is was alleged:— 1. That the scrub bull did not eat any more than the pure bred bull. 2. That the scrub bull could cause the cows to freshen as well as a pure-bred bull could. 3. That if the scrub bull was killed as was asked by the prosecution, there would be a great many fatherless scrub calves mourning for him in Sonoma and Marin counties. The jury deliberated for a few seconds, and brought in a verdict of guilty, recommending the death penalty. The judge declared that he thought the defendant had been given a fair trial, and instructed the sheriff and the butcher to carry out the verdict of the jury. Later the Secretary-manager of the Californian Dairy Council delivered (vide Noel Negiey’s article in Guard's Dairyman) the following funeral oration THE BURIAL OF TAURUS. (With apologies to the Shade of Wm. Shakespeare.) Friends, Farmers, Dairymen, Lend me your ears! I come to bury this here scrub Taurus Not to praise him. The evil that men do, lives after them: The good is oft interred with their bones: So it is with this miserable beast, Whose ignominious end We here are congregated to celebrate. The evil done by this poor, nameless ecrub Will live to the dying day of the last Low-producing daughter for whose existence He is responsible. The only good he can do is to die, That his putrid carcase may be used as fertiliser,

Ox to increase the general supply of soapgrease ! For a short space of years he reigned as king, But he was not ambitious. It was a grievous . fault, And grievously shall he answer for it. He hath brought numerous progeny into the world Whoso lacteal product did the general want fill, But only at great cost And insufferab e labour to their owners. Time was when men did hold Taurus of great value, ... V And of his qualities did tell with pride. I speak not to disprove what th-ose men spoke. But here I am to speak what I do know. You all did love him once, though without cause. What cause doth justify you now to mourn for him? But yesterday the fame of Taurus Might have stood against the world! Now he lies here. And none so poor to do him reverence. O masters! if I were disposed to stir Yout hearts and minds to mutiny and rage. I should hold you, here, spellbound With stories of his cursed wiongs! Good friends, sweet friends, let me not stir you up To such sudden flood of mutiny. They that have used such bulls are honourable men. What private griefs they had, A I know not that made them do it; But certain it is that those men, Though honourable, yet were not wise. If you have tears, prepare to shed them now The while I tell you of His crimes and misdemeanours; I am no orator; But, as you know me all, a plain blunt man; And I have neither wit, nor words, nor worth; Action, nor utterance, nor power Of speech to stir men’s blood. I only speak right on! I tell you that which you yourselves do know. I you Taurm’ lack of points (Poor, poor, dumb mouths), And bid them speak for me: Observe his sullen mien. Take note his crooked back, and broken rump; Slab-sided ribs, and narrow chest; His dull," dead eye; his lough and homely coat. O my masters! can there be men Who yet believe that such a beast Is fit to raise up dairy herds For good Americans! Away with him! Let us look, upon his like no more! And here, to-day, make high resolve That we will rid the fields and The fair hills and valleys of California Of his detested kind forever! Here was-, a scrub, Representative of a thousand others, We’ll*burn his body in the market-place, And, with the brands, fire the funenal pyres Of hundreds like him. Now let it work. Knowledge thou are afoot: Take what course thou wilt!