CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 242, 10 October 1892, Page 4

CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.

AN ONEHUNGA CASE,

At the Onehunga Police Court to-day, before Mr H. W. Bishop, R.M., Harry Prime was charged with cruelly beating a mure at Onehunga, on September 3rd, 1892.—Mr Nicholson appeared for the accused, and pleaded not, guilty.—Sergeant Greene conducted the ca?e for tho police.— Mr Redgate watched tho case on behalf of tho Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

John Stewart, draper, said on September 3rd he saw the defendant in charge of a horse which was yoked in a spring cart, the defendant holding the reins and lashing the horse, which was plunging and rearing. He aleo saw the accused beat the horse on the head with the butt-end of the whip. The flogging was severe; the horse portly fell, and it was still beaten. Withert told the accused to stop ill-using the horse, when the accused, told him to mind his own , bußtrie.B. The continual beating of the horse lasted for 25 minutes. In reply to' Mr Nicholson, witness admitted that the horse appoared rather stubborn. Ernest McAlpine deposed thab Mr Prime gave the horse some coaxing with the whip (laughter), but horses were generally whipped when they wouldn't go. Joseph Loking deposed that Mr Prime was boating tho horse an hard as he could. The beating of the horse was, in bis opinion cruel, and was kept up for some time. Mr Clarke, another witness, described the beating as cruel and uncalled for. The butt end of the whip was üßed on the : bead of the horse.

Mr Nicholson, on behalf of bis client, admitted tbe beating, but urged its necessity, as the animal was stubborn. Albeit Hughes and W. Stoup, gave evidence on behalf of defendant to show that there was no unnecessary violence used.

The R.M. said there was a limit which a man should not overstep when dealing with a horse. Not only was the lash used freely, bub also the butt end of the stock. The evidence brought forward by the police was simply uncontradicted, still considering that the horse had been stubborn the tine would bo light, viz., 20s and costs. Henry Brierly was charged with cruelly ill-treating a horse by riding the same when ib was suffering from an ulcerated back, on October Bth. 1892. He pleaded guilty. Fined 10s and costs of Court.