"FURIOUS DRIVING."

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 216, 12 September 1930, Page 9

"FURIOUS DRIVING."

TREATMENT OF A HORSE.

GREAT SOUTH ROAD INCIDENT,

Consternation was caused in Great South Road 011 June 10 last by the manner in which a horse and cart were driven. The sequel to the incident was the appearance in the Magistrate's Court this morning of Jack Wilson, a dealer, to answer charges of cruelly beating a horse and of over-driving the animal. Pleas of not guilty were entered. Harold Crichton, a tramway conductor, stated that at 6.30 p.m. on June J9 last the defendant drove past the Great South Road terminus belting his horse with a strap. He was zig-zagging over the road, and at one stage witness thought he was going to crash into a telegraph pole. When the tram overtook the defendant a mile further along the road he was still belting the animal. Detective-Sergeant [Kelly: Did the horse seem distressed? It did not have time to. It was going for its life. Cross-examined witness said it was possible that defendant was hitting the horse with the reins.

■ Corroborative evidence was given by David Frost, a tramway motorman. Constable Hendren, who investigated the case on the last witness making a complaint, said there was no light on the cart, and the horse seemed distressed. Defendant said that if he wanted take the horse to the police station he would have to drive it himself. In the course of getting to the station defendant disappeared, leaving •the horse and cart on witness' hands. He also disappeared from his place oi residence. Giving evidence on his own behalf, Wilson said the horse was hired by him, and was quite fresh when he left for home after selling vegetables. One could not beat the pony, as it would kick the bottom out of the cart. The only thing lie could belt it with was tlie reins. • .In reply to Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., defendant said he had disappeared because the constable had accused him of being drunk.

Mr. Kelly : Why. did you sneak,away if your actions were genuine? —I was not going to be "hopped up" for nothing. Wilson's' companion on his wild drive, denied that the horse had been driven at >a furious pace. There, was nothing in the cart with which it could be ilitreated. /

It was stated that the owner of the horse said there were no marks on the animal as the result of its treatment by Wilson.

The magistrate in convicting and fining defendant £3 and costs for overdriving the liorse, said that evidently the animal had been driven in a manner that attracted the attention of everyone. Forty-eight hours was allowed Wilson in which to find the fine, Mr. Hunt remarking that in default of payment he could go to prison. : ..