Alleged trespasses to personal property may be justified for reasons similar to those which justify acts, which would otherwise be trespasses against the person. Self defense is always a good defense to an action for damage to personal property. Thus, if a person is attacked by a dog, he may kill the dog to protect himself;19 a dog which is reasonably suspected of being mad may be lawfully killed even before it has attacked anyone.20 A dog may also be killed when it is destroying poultry;21 but damages to crops by cattle or poultry is not a sufficient excuse for killing such animals.22

Property may be destroyed to check the spread of a fire or for other public purpose; goods may be thrown overboard to lighten the ship in case of a tempest,23 and proper legal process is always a justification for the taking or destruction of personal property.24

18 2 N. J. L. 358.

19 Reynolds 'vs. Phillips, 13 111.

App., 557; Keck vs. Halstead, 3 Lutw, 481.

20 Wolf vs. Chalker, 31 Conn., 121. 21 Leonard vs. Wilkins, 9 Johns

(N Y.), 233. 22 Clark vs. Keliher, 107 Mass., 406.

23 Manse's Case, 12 Cake, 63. In

6uch a case under the principle of the maritime law known aa "general average" the owners of goods on the ship which have been saved must pay their proportional share towards the value of the goods thrown overboard. 24 Fitzgerald vs. Elliott, 162 Pa. St., 118, 42 Am. St. Rep., 812; Wall vs. Farnham, 46 Me., 525