A FREE RIDE

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 72, 25 March 1915, Page 6

A FREE RIDE

SENDS BOY TO HOSPITAL. MOTHER CLAIMS DAMAGES. The average boy is only too delighted 'to have the chance of a free ride on horseback, but it appears that such adventures are attended with some risk both by the boy and the driver. Before Mr. C. C. Kettle, S.M.. at the Magistrate's Court yesterday afternoon, a man named A. Leith (represented by Mr. H. R. Kirker) was \ summoned by Mrs. Jeannie Stevenson (Mr. Dennis top) to pay £10 9/ medical costs and £10 as general damages because he put her boy, Thomas, aged nine years, upon his horse to ride it to the stable. The boy fell off, when turning a corner, injured bis head, was sent to the hospital, and, as thr little fellow expressed it. " was asleep for several days." When asked to ride the horse, the lad said he replied that he was not allowed, but defendant seized hold of him, and lifted him on to the back of the horse. Tommy admitted that he had ridden the horse before three or four times, but his mother gave him a good hiding, and told him not to do so again. Mr. Kirker claimed that the boy had asked for a ride, and his request was granted, therefore he could not claim damages of Mr. Leith. The claim was made by an infant himself, and not by his parents.