Rensselaer Republican, Volume 16, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 December 1883 — The Law of Trespass. [ARTICLE]

The Law of Trespass.

There seems to be a great difference of opinion in regard to the laws of tresjjass and the right possessed by tlie owners of property. Some people thipk that one lias the right to shoot a dog, a cat, fowls, pigeons, etc., coming upon his premises; but he has no such right. His remedy is to go to the law for damages, and he has no right to take the law into his own hands. Some time ago a person in a neighboring county poisoned a trespassing dog, and was arrested. He freely admitted doing it and attempted to show that he had the right to do so. The court and jury J disagreed with him, and, as he liad no money, he was sent to jail for three months. Another case occurred a number of years ago. A neighboring sporting citizen was hunting partridges wdth a fine setter dog on which he placed great store. The dog was shot by a nonsporting farmer while hunting on his premises, and the act, being proved, the defendant undertook to show that the dog was unknown to him, and at best was a nuisance. ~ But this Was quickly disproved, and after a trial of two or three days the defendant was beaten, the jury adjudging the full value of the dog, about S4O. The case at the time created a great deal of interest, as both parties were well known and respected in the community. This was the last case we heard of within the limits of Philadelphia county. How much better, all things considered, to settle all these neighborhood questions amicably. With a disposition to livtepeaceably and kmdiy in the same vicinity, and bv simply bearing and forebearing in all the little happenings of daily occurence, it would soon be found how- easy it was to be always friendly with everybody, and how pleasant it was to know that there was not a single person among all your ac quaintances with whom you were not on cordial terms of friendship.— Gei'mantown Telegraph.