Rensselaer Journal, Volume 11, Number 43, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 April 1902 — AN EXPENSIVE FIGHT OVER A OAT. [ARTICLE]

AN EXPENSIVE FIGHT OVER A OAT.

Lawsuit That Pram lass ts Become a Celebrated Casa. A dispute as to the ownership of a cat has reached the state circuit court in Sioux Falls, S. D., and it promises to become as noted as the celebrated lowa calf case, says an exchange. Ole Finstand and wife claim to have loaned the cat to Mrs. Lewis, a neighbor, for the purpose of ridding her housp of rats. Mrs. Lewis afterward declined to return the animal, and the claimants asserted that she had appropriated it to her own use, and was holding it by force of arms, contrary to the Btatute. Finstad tried to regain possession of the cat by force of arms, contrary to the statute. Finstad tried to regain possession of the cat by force, and Mrs. Lewis had him arrested for assault and battery. A justice imposed a fine upon Finstad, but the defendant refused to pay it, and appealed the case to the circuit court. Thus far S3O in costs have been charged up to the county in settling the ownership of the cat, and this promises to mount up into the thousands before the case is terminated. The cat is an ordinary one and would not bring over fifty cents on the market.