ALLEGED CRUELTY.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 245, 18 October 1886, Page 3

ALLEGED CRUELTY.

Frederic^ Yonge appeared at the Police Court to-day on a charge of cruelly illtreating a horse at Ramuara on tho 18th of September by spurring o»d striking the eaid animal. Mr Thorne ' prosecuted on behalf of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and Mr J. E. Hyde Harris appeared for the defence. Tho evidence for the prosecution was to the effect that on the 18lb September there was an entire show at Green Lane, and on tho same afternoon a meeting of the Hunt Club took place. At the show there was a horae named Ruahine, which belonged to Mr Donnelly, and was intended to compote at the hurdle race at the Hunt Club races. In order that it might qualify for the race in question, it waa necessary that tho hoise should follow the hounds on tfoe fcftisrnoon in question. Mr Young was OBked to ride tfie animal, and was told that he ought to be careful, and to ride gently, as the intention simply was to qualify. Instead of obeying these instructions, the defendant, it was alleged, severely ill - treated the animal, and gored it unnecessarily with the spura, and to such an extent that Youne's trouser legs wero covered with blood. The Evidence for the prosecution was eiyon by Mr Donnelly, Major Walmsley, Mesaro Woolfiold, Cilerr, Wheaiell, Munn, and Edgecombe. Fd=;ecombe said the horse's flanks were like raw beef when he wasbroughtback. MrHarriacross-examincd witnesses with thoobject of showing that the horso was of an obstinate temper, but the general opinion was the other way. Mr Munn said he gavo the horse to deiendant to ride up to tho top of Remuera Road, and then ride him homo. When ho trot the horeo back it was spurred all down the ribs, and waa lamo. He denied that the horae had been bo badly sourred on the previous Saturday that the slightest touch drew blood. He did not UIT Mr O'Rorke that he had to give the horse a jolly good knocking about on the previous Wednesday. There waa blood on the horse's sides at Onehunga races last Satnrdav the old wounds havingbeen opened up. The'horre was owned by Mr G. P. Donnelly, of Napier, although ho waa run in his name last Saturday. The defence was that the, hor ß3 was badly spurred by Mann oa the previous Wedneeday, and that being an old Bteeplochaser, and an old hone well that he wae covered with sweat boils' and wao in that condition when Yonge took him out. It was eubmitted that there was no ill-treatment, and that the horaes flanks were more naked than they otherwise would be owing to the animal falling in a ditch and consequently being cut by tho apure. (Left Sitting.)