CRUELTY TO A HORSE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXV, Issue 9427, 30 May 1891, Page 3

CRUELTY TO A HORSE.

At the Resident Magistrate’s Court, Christchurch, yesterday morning, before Messrs E. Wesfcenra and T. D. Acland, J.P.’s, Alexander Clephane was charged with cruelty to a horse on May 6. Mr Cresswell, who prosecuted for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, said that the charge was brought under that section of the Act, that made a masher responsible for the fault of his servant, provided that knowledge and consent were proved. A. W. Smith: Was Assistant Secretary and Inspector to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. In consequence of complaints made to him, he and a constable waited in Tuam street, inside the door of the White Swan Hotel. About a quarter to eight in tho morning, saw a horse in a cart, driven by a man named Hunter, pull up near the hotel. Took the names of the men in the cart. Examined the horse, which was in very bad condition, and suffering from a wound on the sheath. The horse was very old aud emaciated, and the wound was easily visible; in fact, could net be missed. The animal was not fit to drag an empty cart, let alone the task it was sot to do. Constable O’Leary: There were seven other men in the cart, besides Hunter. The wound on the horse was very painful, and it was cruel to use the horse in such a state. Mounted Constable Kelso -. Went to Sockburn, and saw the horse in question in work. It was being driven by a man UP.med Charles Hunter. There were seven others in the trap. Considered that it was cruelty to use the horse in the state that it was in. A. Clephane admitted the horse was hia.

Thomas Hill, Veterinary Surgeon: Saw the horse in question. It was very old and emaciated in condition, and waa suffering from a bad tumour. Taking the horse’s age and condition, and the tumour, it was one of the worst cases of cruelty that bad coma under his notice for many years, and if the horse could not be cured it should either be killed or turned out. Defendant Clephane said that he had bad the horse for twelve years, and had a lot of trouble with It. About four or five years ago he had taken the horse to Mr Hill to be operated upon, but Mr Hill declined. Ttio horse was a good one, and so he did not want to lose it. It had a spell, p.nd had only been in work that time about two months. Sometimes it was worse and sometimes better, but it never flinched and was better when doing a little wox-k. The animal was sixteen years old, so far as witness knew. Ha used to bathe the wound. The horse was outside the Court for tho Bench to examine it. After examining the horse, the Bench said it would have beer! better for defendant if he had not asked them to look at the horse, for, in their long experience of houses, they had not seen,; such a case, and,

the horse should be shot or turned out at once. To mark their sense of the gravity of the case, defendant would be fined £o and costs, including a solicitor’s fee. Charles Hunter was then charged with cruelly overloading the same horse on May 6. The evidence called was the same as in the previous case. Mr. Cresswell, who appeared for the S.P.C.A., did not wish to press the charge, and 1 it was withdrawn by leave of the Bench. .