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Timaru Herald, Volume XI, Issue 440, 14 August 1869, Page 3

A Barber's Mischievous Parrot.— At the Greenwich Police Court, recently, Stephen White, apparently much afflicted and somewhat aged, residing at 3, Maria terrace, New Eoad, Rotherhithe, appeared to a summons charging him with using abusive and threatening language towards Edwin Fox, carrying on a hair-dressing and shaving business in the same neighborhood. — The plaintiff, who appeared somewhat excited, said that a few days ago the defendant oame to his shop to be shaved, and be had just commenced shaving him when he suddenly moved from his seat. Remembering that on a former occasion, when shaving him, he cut him rather severely, in consequence of his not sitting still, he told the defendant he would be cut again, and Bhortly afterwards, be jumped from his seat, made use of the most threatening language towards him, Baid he would do all he could to ruin him in his business, «tnd then.hurriedly left the shop. Fearing that defendant would carry out his threats, he had taken the present proceedings. The defendant in answer to the magistrate said he had been suffering from gout and bronchitis, and the present complaint arose out of two parrots kept by the complainant in his shop.— [Laughter.]— The Masistrate?—"What had the Parrots to do with it?— The Defendant :— One of them is particularly irritating and annoying. While being shaved it called out, " Fox I shall net be able to pay for this shave till Saturday night-."— [Roars of laughter, in which the magistrate joined.]— This naturally irritated me, and caused me to move, and when I felt the razor passing across my throat, and the parrot called out "Fox cut his throat" — [renewed laughter]— I naturally felt alarmed, recollecting the previous cut I had received, and left the place.— The complainant denied that the parrot was in the shop at the time, and said that the defendant's statement was likely to injure him in his business. — Mr Bousti-ed (chief clerk) asked the complainant if he kept parrots, and .whether one of them used such language, as in this case it might be necessary to bind him (complainant) . over in sureties for the bird's good behaviour.— [Loud laughter.]— The complainant replied that he had two parrots, but gave no answer as to their linguistic capabilities.— The magistrate, said he did not think that the complainant had any thing to fear from the defendant, and left them to reconcile matters between themselves, the whole court being convulsed with laughter. . . . . Importance op Words. — An important question affecting the value of a dying declaration was decided by the Court of Criminal Appeal on Saturday the 24ih April. At the last Bristol Assises a man named Jenkins, was sentenced to death for the murder of Fanny Beeves, who had lived with him as his wife. The theory of the prosooution was that he had pushed her into the Avon, with the intention of destroying her life, but the only evidence againsi him, was the dying statement of the woman, which concluded with this declaration : —"I make this declaration with the fear of death before me, and with no hope at present of my reoovery." The poor -woman died a few hours afterwards, but in consequence of the introduction of the words "at present," it was contended that, when the statement was made, there was not suoh an impression of impending death on the mind of deceased as to make it admissable. The Court took this view of . the question, and quashed the conviction. Jenkins hfts since been liberated. ■„'■■'■ A Wrinkle About the Age of Horses.— After the horse is nine years old, a wrinkle comes on the eyelid in the upper corner of the lower lid; and every year thereafter he has one well-defined wrinkle for each year of his ase over nice. If for instance, he has three Tinkles, he is twelve; if four he is thirieen. Add the number of wrinkles to nine, and you will always get the age. .-..,. • ■■■»■■, The most celebrated •writers on natural history have decided on the following as the scale of iihe average duration of animal life :— A hare Will live 10 years, a cat 10, a goat 8, »n ass 30, a sheep 10, a dog from 14 to 20, an ox 20, swine 25, a raven 100 r an: eagle 106,. a ] goose 150. . . . , Lady (who is canvassing for a choir at the village church) —I tope Mrs Giles you -will persuade your husband to join jw. lam told be has a very .sonorous voice. Mi-8 6. — |ASiwreom voice, marm. yon should hear it enmin' out of bis nose when be s asleep.: ■? -.-.-.i ■■'; - :,■ ■ ■.■..' -.■ - : ; ■■ \ , .:: :•■; A Sailor passing through a graveyard, aaw ; on one of the tombstones, " I still liva." .; -It •was too much for .Jack, Who shifting bis quid, ejaculated, ; Well, Tve heard fay that there are cases, in which man mayhe, but, if I=wasdead,;FdownitL" .->■■<_;.:■< : -.i