CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9066, 9 November 1909, Page 6

CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.

At tho S.M. Court yesterday, before Mr A. D. Thomson, S.M., E. and J. Uibby, proprietors of tho buck-jumping show" at the recent Agricultural 'Show, were chiirgod that on tho 4th November they wilfully, cruelly ill-treated t;wo horses.

Mi- Ilankine appeared for the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and the accused, who were represented by Mr 11. Cooper, pleaded not guilty. Mr Hankins, in opening the case for the Society, shortly detailed the acts of cruelty relied upon, and said they could not bo excused as being necessary from any point of view; they vrcre acts done for purposes of sordid gain in attempting to make a show, and cruel in every sense of tho word. Ho called

Dr. Wilson, who said he wont to the buck-jumping show of the defendants on Thursday, tho 4th inst. When ho arrived there were between 40 and 50 people present. He saw both defendants in the ring. A mare and a young colt were driven into tho enclosure. They both appeared to be terrorised, and the marc made an unefFcctual attempt to escape by jumping up the entrance gate. One of the defendants threw a rope with a slip knot over the head of tho colt, and drawing tho- rope tight, succeeded in half suffocating the animal and bringing it down on to its knees. This was done a second time, and it was then secured. Invitations were then given to ride it, a monetary prize being offered if the rid or succeeded without being thrown. A boy came forward and mounted tho animal, sind appeared to bo likely to eucpeod. Someone called out for a flank rope, and one of tho defendants threw a rope- across tho loins of the colt, when the boy said if there is going to be any game of that sort I am getting off. Tho rope was not used, but ono of the men jabbed the colt in tho hindquarters with spurs, having one in each hand. He considered the treatment of the colt as being cruel in the extreme. Ho did not see any attempt made to secure the colt except by the use of the rope.

Mr Hankins said he did not intend to call any other witnesses. The defence sot up was that the colt was not in tho ring for show purposes. It had followed the marc. It had boon sent 1o the accused for the purposes of being quietened, but as it was in the ring tho accused quite unvoluntarily, after roping it with the view of taking it out of tho ring, asked if any boy would ride it.

Mr Cooper called both defendants, who deposed that they had been conducting such shows for five years, and had never been accused of cruelty before. They both denied throwing tho colt by the rope more than once, and ono of them said ho had not used spurs, but had merely plucked tho skin of tho horse with his fingers "to smarten him up." That the flank rope was not used. It was thrown for the purpose of getting the horse to lead. Mr Corkery was the gentleman wlio had sent the horse to be quietened. He knew Mr Corkery was a horse dealer in Palmerston North. The colt was rising two years old. It would be two years next August. Mr Moynohan, hotelkccper, was also called to say he saw no act of cruelty, but on cross-examination admitted that he was not there when the colt was roped, and that the accused were staying in his hotel.

Constable Watts, from Ashhurst, in uniform, gave similar evidence. Hcwi; present from the beginning to the end. On cross-examination ho admitted 'hat there was no necessity for roping Ire colt to get it out of the ring; it would havo followed the mare out.

Mr Simpson, a drover, was present during the whole show, and saw nothing cruel in the performance. It wae a common thing to rope horses in lhat manner. It was done every day in the saloyards at Palmerston North.

The Magistrate, in giving judgment, said that no one could object to seeing a man ride a buck-jumping horse, oven for the purposes of an exhibition, but it was necessary that such shows as these should be closely watched. Thay were apt to drift into cruelty. Ho was satisfied there had been cruelty used, and he would fine the defendants 10s, with solicitor's fee £1 Is, witnesses' expenses 10s, and costs of Court.