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Song Challenge-Goats Freed From Prison

10 Sep 08 - 12:10 PM (#2436322)
Subject: Song Challenge-Goats Freed From Prison
From: Amergin

DR Congo frees goats from prison


A minister in the Democratic Republic of Congo has ordered a Kinshasa jail to release a dozen goats, which he said were being held there illegally.

Deputy Justice Minister Claude Nyamugabo said he found the goats just in time during a routine jail visit.

The beasts were due to appear in court, charged with being sold illegally by the roadside.

The minister said many police had serious gaps in their knowledge and they would be sent for retraining.

Mr Nyamugabo was conducting a routine visit to the prison when, he said, he was astonished to discover not only humans, but a herd of goats crammed into a prison cell in the capital.

He has blamed the police for the incident.

It is not clear what will happen to the owners of the goats, who have also been imprisoned.

BBC Africa analyst Mary Harper says that given the grim state of prisons in Congo, the goats will doubtless be relieved about being spared a trial.

There was no word on what their punishment would have been, had they been found guilty.


10 Sep 08 - 09:10 PM (#2436893)
Subject: RE: Song Challenge-Goats Freed From Prison
From: Genie

Talk about adding insult to injury. First you're herded, then you're sold illegally, then they put YOU in jail for that.   That's really baaaaaaaad!


10 Sep 08 - 09:46 PM (#2436910)
Subject: RE: Song Challenge-Goats Freed From Prison
From: Sandra in Sydney

criminalise the victim!


10 Sep 08 - 11:55 PM (#2436996)
Subject: RE: Song Challenge-Goats Freed From Prison
From: GUEST,iancarterb

I'll be spreading the word to the Beacon Hill Park herd in Victoria BC. Expect a petition from all those kids to the government of DR of C- they're young but they're daily growing.
Goat justice now!


11 Sep 08 - 02:56 AM (#2437067)
Subject: RE: Song Challenge-Goats Freed From Prison
From: Georgiansilver

To the tune of Paddy McGintys Goat.:-

Claude Nyamugabo, a congolese of note,
Went to Kinasha Jail and found himself some goats.
They had been arrested, a dashing of their pride,
For being sold illegally... at the roadside.
Crammed in a prison cell, Billies, Nannies too,
I'm sure, upon the floor, he found a load of poo.
They have been released now since Nyamugabo came,
Someone had to take the fall, the cops got the blame.


11 Sep 08 - 03:25 AM (#2437075)
Subject: RE: Song Challenge-Goats Freed From Prison
From: Jim Carroll

There is a long history of animals, particularly goats being tried for heresy and witchcraft, and if found guilty, executed - so I'd say your lot got off pretty lightly. This wasn't in 'The Dark Continent' as it was called in colonial days, but in 'enlightened' Europe. I'm pretty sure Scotland featured strongly in the practice.
There are several books on the subject - can't remember the titles, but one has an illustration of a donkey being hanged (hence the saying 'hung like a donkey'!!!)(sorry, couldn't resist).
Jim Carroll


11 Sep 08 - 06:28 AM (#2437153)
Subject: RE: Song Challenge-Goats Freed From Prison
From: Georgiansilver

That Jim Carroll... ee-aw... ee- aw..... ee- awt to know better


11 Sep 08 - 08:04 AM (#2437215)
Subject: RE: Song Challenge-Goats Freed From Prison
From: Mr Red

No kidding. Butt on the other hand......... It just goats to show

And those goats in prison - would that make it a Billy Collony

I Thankyou...............


11 Sep 08 - 09:33 AM (#2437279)
Subject: RE: Song Challenge-Goats Freed From Prison
From: Jim Carroll

From book entitle Credulities Pat And Present by W Jones, London 1880


Jim Carroll
Extracts of chapter 7 - 'Trials, excorcising and blessing of animals'
"The execution of these animals was public and solemn; sometimes they were clothed like men. In 1386, the judge of Falaise condemned a sow to be mutilated in the leg and head, and afterwards to be hung, for having torn the face and arm, and then killing a child. This was a Draconian infliction of punishment. This sow was executed in the public square, clothed in a man's dress. The execution cost ten sous, six deniers tournois, besides a new glove for the executioner.
Bulls shared with swine the same mode of trial and punish¬ment for homicide. M. Carlier, in his " Histoire du Duche de Valois," relates that a farmer of the village of Moisy allowed an untamed bull to escape; the consequence was the death of a man, pierced by his horns. Charles, Count of Valois, having heard of this, gave orders that the bull should be seized and proceedings taken against the animal. This was done; the officers of justice examined witnesses who had seen the, man killed. The bull was eventually sentenced and hung. But this did not terminate the affair; an appeal was made against the incompatibility of the retainers of the count to perforin the execution, to the parliament of the Chandeleur of 1314. After a long discussion it was decided that the bull deserved death, but the Count de Valois had no justiciary rights on the territory of Moisy. In 1499 a bull was hung for having "par furiosité occis un joine ills de quatorze ou quinze ans," in the lordship of Cauroy, which belonged to the Abbey of Beaupre.
Horses were also judged in the criminal courts. The registers of Dijon record that in 1389 one was condemned to death for having killed a man.
In the year 1403, Simon de Baudemont, Lieutenant at Meulan, Jhean, Lord of Maintenon, the Bailiff of Mantes an i Meulan, signed an attestation making known the expenses which had been incurred in order to execute justice on a sow that had eaten a child : " For expenses within the jail, the charge was 6 sols.* Item, to the executioner who came from Paris to Meulan, to put the sentence in execution by the comand of our Lord the Bailiff, and of the King's Attorney. 54 sols. Item, for the carriage that conveyed her to execution. 6 sols. Item, for ropes to tie and haul her up, 2 sols 8 denurs. Item, for gloves 12 deniers; amounting in the whole to 69 sols 8 deniers." The item for gloves has puzzled some persons. Southey suggests that they were insisted upon by the execu¬tioner, as a point of honour, that no one might reproach him with having soiled his hands by performing on such a subject.
The summonses were served by an officer of the court, read¬ing them at the places which the animals frequented. These citations were written out with all technical formality, and, that there might be no mistake, contained a description of the animals. Thus, in a process against rats in the diocese c: Autun, the defendants were described as dirty animals in the form of rats, of a greyish colour, living in holes. This trial is famous in the annals of French law, for it was then that Chasse-neuz, the famous advocate, won his first laurels. The rats not appearing on the first citation, Chasseneuz, their counsel argued that the summons was of a too local and individual character; that as all the rats in the diocese were interested, all should be summoned"


11 Sep 08 - 12:06 PM (#2437456)
Subject: RE: Song Challenge-Goats Freed From Prison
From: EBarnacle

OK, Jim. But why did the first executioner require only one glove?


11 Sep 08 - 12:15 PM (#2437460)
Subject: RE: Song Challenge-Goats Freed From Prison
From: John MacKenzie

Once I had a Secret Glove ♫♪


12 Sep 08 - 11:25 AM (#2438386)
Subject: RE: Song Challenge-Goats Freed From Prison
From: Goose Gander

THE GOAT FREED FROM THE GALLOWS

O, hangman, hangman, hold your halters, hold them for a while
I think I see the farmer's face come riding many a mile
O, did you bring me alfalfa or come to set me free?
Or did you come to see me hang from the gallows tree?

O, no, I did not bring you alfalfa or come to set you free
I only come to see you hang from the gallows tree.

I think I see the farmer's wife . . .

I think I see the milkmaid's face . . .

I think I see the ploughboy's face . . .

And so on, until the goat-herd (or the Deputy Justice Minister, or someone) frees the poor, abandoned goat.


12 Sep 08 - 03:41 PM (#2438651)
Subject: RE: Song Challenge-Goats Freed From Prison
From: Georgiansilver

I think I see my Billy, coming over yonder stile... or perhaps my Nanny!!!!