CRUELTY TO KITTEN

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 December 1929, Page 11

CRUELTY TO KITTEN

SAILOR “ASSAULTS” YOUNGSTER (Special to “Star.") AUCKLAND, December 6. At the Police Court this morning, Archibald Larkin, of H.M.S. Dunedin, was charged with assaulting Kenneth Scott, aged four. Larkin did not appear, but was represented by Mr Armstead, of the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Mr Armstead said, that Larkin, together with his wife and sister-in-law, were sitting on the verandah of their home at Devonport when he saw two

small boys throwing a little kitten into a. drain. They tbyew it into the drain several times and pulled it out again by the tail. Larkin remonstrated with the boys. One ran away home, and his

mother gave him a smacking. Mr Hunt: That was the proper thing

to do. Mr Armstead added that Larkin picked up the other boy, Kenneth Scott, and said : “How would you like to be put in the drain?” The boy’s arm

went into the drain. Mr Hunt: Is that the alleged assault? “Yes,” said counsel. Sub-Inspector McCarthy said there was another’ side to the story. The little boy was only four, and his head and shoulders were dipped into the drain. *Mr Armstead said he had three independent witnesses who would deny that. Mrs Scott gave evidence. She said her little boy came home crying. His head and one shoulder were covered in mud. Larkin told witness that the boy had thrown the kitten in several times and that he stuck the child in, too. “The sailor did quite right,” said Mr Hunt. “The case is dismissed.”