GROSS CRUELTY

. .»_ CHINESE GARDENER FINED ♦ ' ■-.

■ Ah Lee, afr market gardener at Miramar, \vas called before*-Mr. E. Page, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court yester day. to answer a charge of having cruelly ill-treated a cow belonging to William Teiford and Robert Bone, dairymen. Several witnesses were called by Mr. 0. C. Mnzengarb, who appeared on behalf of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, imd, in brief, their .stories were that the cow had apparently wandered through the dividing fence;between Tolfovd's place and the Chinaman's garden on Sunday, Ist September, and, quickly realising the quality of the Cabbages and other vegetables, had dined right royally until one of the Chinamen set out to avenge the outrage by chasing the animal out of the, garden with a ehovel.

Ah Lee. admitted having struck the cow with a shovel, but denied that he. had inflicted any serious injury, as it continued gracing lying down, after it had been.driven through the fence. ' Up to a- point the story coincided with the statements of the other witnesses, but Mounted Constable Wilson, Mr A. Milligan, veterinary surgeon, and Inspector Henry, of the Society for tlie Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, who examined thw animal when it was discovered three days "later, stated that one hind leg had been cut to the bone, just above the hock, and, as a result, ihe beast was \mable to move. For three days, therefore, it.had been without food and water, and the poor brute was in such a state that it was necessary to destroy it. ■ . , :

The Magistrate characterised the case a& a most serious one, and imposed the maximum penalty of £20, with costs amounting to £4 9s. Ah Lee was a!eo ordered to pay Telford the sum of £18, the estimated value of the cow. In default of payment of.- the fine and costs, Ah Lee must go to gaol for a month. Mr. G. W. Hellish appeared for the defence, and Mr. A. Mi Salek on behalf of Telford. . ♦ '