THE GERMAN HORSE. 165

“In Germany it is a capital crime—that is,
a crime liable to the punishment of death—to
kill a horse, ass, or mule. He, accordingly, one
evening, after taking care that all his servants
should be busily employed, and that no one
should on that evening have access to the stable
except the groom, when all were asleep went
into the stable and cut off the tail from his
horse, in consequence of which the poor animal
bled to death. Great confusion, it may be sup-
posed, followed the discovery of the mischief.
In the morning, when the master was informed
of what had happened, he of course appeared
greatly incensed. Strict inquiries were insti-
tuted to ascertain who could have committed an
act of such atrocity, but without effect. It was
no difficult matter for the servants to exculpate
themselves, the groom only excepted, and he
was apprehended and committed to prison. The
poor fellow, upon his arraignment, it may be
supposed, pleaded not guilty; but the pre-
sumption being very strong against him, he was