Sometimes, they’re just sick

Friday, September 30, 2011

There isn’t much one can say about someone who would brutally kill a cat.

They should be arrested and punished. But, as is the case with anyone who commits a crime that is incomprehensible, we have to realize that there is something terribly wrong with this person, or these persons, and that he, she or they need help.

There is a $3,000 reward being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons who killed this cat, named Raj, in a particularly brutal manner. The Humane Society for Greater Nashua has offered $2,500, and an anonymous donor has offered $500. We thank them.

And there’s a probability that the money will be paid to a tipster, because someone sadly sick enough to commit such a heinous crime undoubtedly stupid enough to talk, even brag, about it. That’s so hard to believe. Who would talk about such a thing, much less brag?

But people do. People do.

There is an adage in police work that, in general, criminals are stupid and that’s why most of them get caught. They just can’t keep their mouths shut; they can’t keep from showing off.

There is a classic scene in “Goodfellas” where Robert De Niro, playing Jimmy Conway, is furious because his idiot partners in the Lufthansa heist did not lay low: One dimwit bought his wife a Cadillac, another bought his girlfriend a mink coat.

“Whaddid I tell you? Whaddid I tell you?” De Niro barks at them.

Later, of course, he kills them all, as was the wont of Jimmy Burke, the real criminal De Niro was playing as Jimmy Conway.

The point is, criminals are dumb. They do dumb things, starting with the crime. If crime were a really smart thing to do, someone would find a way to legalize it.

“No, you gotta gimme the bank’s money because it’s legal. See? I got a document right here.”

We don’t mean to make light of this; killing an animal isn’t funny, nor is it a sane act. Whoever did it needs help, and they won’t get it if they aren’t caught.

Or if they don’t turn themselves in. That, really, would be the best course. It might show a little contrition, perhaps an understanding that what they did was wrong. We hope that is the direction they take.