THE HORSE FIEND.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 10481, 20 October 1899, Page 2

THE HORSE FIEND.

TO THE KDITOR OF THS _-__). Sir, —As one considerably interested in horses I have closely watched the accounts of the various deeds alleged to be perpetrated by the "Horse Fiend," and have come to the conclusion that they are more imaginary than real No doubt there have been some dastardly deeds done (not necessarily by one individual, but by interested or malicious persons), to wit, Mr Stalker's entire pony. Doubtless this was one of such blackguard tricks, and I have no doubt Mr Buckley's was another. Any person acquainted with horses knows well how hard they are on fences, rubbing and scratching in any available place, and now that barbed wire has come into such general use we must look for frequent accident*. A case came under my notice orfy a -week ago, where a two-year-old colt received a cut some three inches deep in the lower part of the throat. The cut was perfectly clean, as though done by a surgical instz-jnent, and extended to the windpipe. This I traced to a barbed wire fence. I could quote numerous other cases of accident traceabl* to barbed wire and other causes, not only among horses, but in other stock aa well, and I fancy a searching investigation oi many of the reported 'cases would jrive a smf*?*** result to mine.—-Your*, etc., AN OWNER. Christchwch, 18th October, 1899.