CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9049, 9 May 1888, Page 5

CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.

At the Police Court, on Monday, before H. C. S. Baddeiey, Esq., R.M., Edward Kelly, of Ellerslie, the well-known horsotminer, was charged with illtreating his horse Minuet by over-driving on the 14th April. Mr. Earl appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. Theo. Cooper for the defoncc. Mr. Cooper pleaded guilty on behalf of the defendant. Mr. Earl said that the defendant had left for Sydney, and that in his absence the prosecutor did not care to press for a heavy penalty. The facts wore that on the day mentioned Kelly arrived from Tarauaki, and being anxious to catch the four o'clock boatfor"tho North Shore, where races were going on, ho overdrove the horse, bringing it to the stables in Auckland in a thoroughly exhausted condition, covered with lather, and bearing all the signs of great distress, and that some few hours afterwards, while the animal was still distressed, drove him back to Ellerslie. Mr. Cooper stated that the facto woro not unfairly put by Mr. Earl, but that the horse, although driven fast, was not actually injured, and suggested that a moderate penalty would meet the case. The Resident Magistrate said that people should be taught that even to catch trains and boats they have no right to over-drive their horses, but as this was the first case of the kind brought before him, ho would not make the fienalty heavy. In future, he would treat similar offenders with severity. Fined 20s and costs, which amounted to £4 10s.