ALLEGED CRUELTY.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 803, 19 January 1903, Page 3

ALLEGED CRUELTY.

EXTRAORDINARY DEFENCE

At the sitting of the-HamiltonMa-gistrates Court, llowcll Williams was charged with having (1) been drunk while in charge of a horse, (2) with having wilfully destroyed a horse of the value of £5, and (3) with ill-treating a horse on January 5 last. It was alleged for the prosecution that the accused had stabbed a bay mare in three places with a sheath knife, inflicting very serious wounds. He bad been entrusted with the horse to ride to Kihikihi. The question of guilt turned upon the state of the mams mind at the time he committedthe offences. All the witnesses for the prosecution spoke to the man having been in a dazed coudition. The evidence showed that he had given several versions a£ to how the mare came by her'injuries. Dr Going, who was called for the defence, deposed that nervous disorders might follow a case of typhoid fever. He had examined accused, and found indications of nervous disease. On enquiry as to the history of the rase, he had ascertained that accused had had convulsion seizures and other nervous disturbances. He had come -.o the conclusion that during certain periods accused would be quite Irresponsible for his actions, and might commit actions that lie would not do in his normal condition. He considered accused:s condition a serious one, and that he ought to be kept under close observation for a (Considerable period. Ho was suffering from epilepsy. Tlie result of this would be that the man would be in a dazed condition. . lOdwin Harrowell, who was. captain of the Seventh South African Continent, deposed that accused served with him. He was a splendid soldier steadv. trustworthy, and reliable in the field and in camp. He was always patient and carefcrl with horses, and any horses picked up on tiie veldt by witness’ squadron were handed over to him to handle. He had been in the hospital on two occasions. He was sober in his habits in South Africa. J. R. Thompson, Government surveyor said accused had worked as a laborer on bis survey party. He had formed a very high opinion of him. tic was oiciuly and hard-working. Witness knew that he suffered from

1 /Thomas V. Williams, fatlici of the ofeuscd, said his son returned from Airier) in June, 1903. His health S b HO iiacfrS depression" A E Manning, chemist, oi Hannl , accused had been to him Afreet ently for sleeping draughts anil lad occasionally got hem. e last nsked for one at about 11 oi ha 11 of the night of January oth, WeVas perfectly S sober at the time. and <U smissed t!ie cas?s ' i