No one is above the law, not even the four-legged ones. In the past, animals have been tried and convicted.

 

As absurd as it sounds nowadays, animals used to be tried in court, whether for a crime against individuals or because they posed a danger to society.

 

When these animals were declared guilty, they were usually executed or exiled. Most documented court cases against animals took place in Europe between the 13th and 18th centuries. In the Middle Ages, rodents, birds, flies, grasshoppers, eels and snakes were often charged with destroying crops. If the animals did not appear in court themselves, they were tried 'in absentia'. The accused animals were even given a defence lawyer who was allowed to call and interrogate witnesses.

 

Pigs

The first court case against a pig took place in Fontenay-aux-Roses in 1266. In 1386, a sow was charged with mutilating an unattended infant left in its pen. The sow was arrested and locked in a cell with human criminals. During the trial, several witnesses were called and evidence was presented.

The verdict was: Guilty of murder. On the day of its execution, the pig wore a man's coat and a white shirt to symbolise the equality of man and animal before the court. The pig was brutally mutilated like the infant.

 

Elephants

In 1916, Mary the circus elephant killed an elephant trainer during a circus parade in Erwin, Tennessee. The cow elephant, weighing a whopping 5 tons, was charged, convicted and hung from an industrial crane.

 

Monkeys

A monkey was once convicted of cigarette smoking in Indiana.

In addition, in 11877, there was the monkey of an organ grinder who was sued for attacking Mary Shea, the owner of a junk shop in New York, during a performance. The monkey, Jimmy, had been given a piece of sugar by her as a reward. When he ate it, she playfully tried to take it away from him, whereupon Jimmy got angry and bit off the ring finger of her right hand. When the judge acquitted Jimmy, he jumped on the judge's table, took off his fedora and shook the judge's hand.

The police report afterwards said: Name: Jimmy Dillio, profession: monkey, verdict: acquittal.

 

Donkey

In cases of sexual intercourse with animals, the animal was usually considered compliant and therefore charged and executed along with the human perpetrator. In 1750, it happened that Jacques Ferron was caught with a donkey and brought to trial. Fortunately for the donkey, a witness came forward who testified that he had known the defendant for years to be virtuous and obedient. The donkey was acquitted. Since no one testified on Ferron's behalf, he was burned at the stake.

 

Trials against animals existed well into modern times, but they became less frequent after the Age of Enlightenment. Today, the legal system sees animals as creatures without moral agency, who therefore cannot be pleaded guilty to a crime.