Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 January 1914 — SENSITIVE CAT A SUICIDE [ARTICLE]

SENSITIVE CAT A SUICIDE

Billy Was Slapped on the Head Thirteenth Birthday, on December 13, 1913. Bloomfield, N. JMiss Lucy Bergen of Washington street, in this town, is sure that her large black cat committed suicide deliberately, and many persons who saw the tragic end of her pet agreed with her. The cat ran out to the middle of the street In front of its home, and awaited the approach of an automobile. The chauffeur saw the animal and steered In pext the curb to avoid hitting It But the cat crawled toward the curb, judging the distance so as to get exactly in front of the wheels of the auto, which ran over It. Speaking of it Miss Bergen said, “I was putting a pink ribbon on ‘Billy’s’ neck In honor of his thirteenth birthday, when he scratched my hand, for which I gave him a sharp blow on the side of the head with my open hand. He jumped off the table and sought refuge behind a gas range in the kitchen. I felt sorry for what I had done and tried to coax him out. but he paid no attention to me, and at the .first opportunity he ran out the kitchen door. "I thought ho would soon return, and after bathing my wound I went into the parlor rind sat by the window. From (here I saw ‘Billy’ lying in the street, i ft wak not until thfen

that I remembered our talk at the breakfast table. Billy was thirteen years ofd, it is the 13th day of the month and the year 1913. Then I saw the automobue coming and I ran to the door. Billy’s actions prove to me that he wanted to die, for the driver of the automobile did everything possible to avoid running over him.”