CHARGES OF CRUELTY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 256, 28 September 1932, Page 12

CHARGES OF CRUELTY.

DISMISSED BY MAGISTRATE. AUCKLAND, Sept. 26. A charge of cruelly ill-treating a cow by spraying it with kerosene and setting it alight was brought against a boy at a sitting of the Children’s Court, Opotiki, over which Mr S. I* Paterson, S.M., presided. Evidence was given to the effect that the boy was seen chasing a cow, whose tail was ablaze.

The boy’s statement was to the effect that he was using a blow lamp outside the cowshed when a large flame shot from it. He threw the lamp away from him, and it hit the cow, setting the tail alight. He then chased the cow with the object of putting the fire out. Evidence was given by the boy s father to the effect that the boy had used benzine instead of kerosene in the lamp, resulting in a jet of flame about 20ft long. . .... The Magistrate said that if the boy had deliberately set fire to the cow he would have ordered a whipping. In view of the evidence, however, he would give the boy the benefit of the doubt, and dismiss the charge.