ILLTREATMENT OF A CALF.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13484, 10 May 1907, Page 3

ILLTREATMENT OF A CALF.

Sir, Being tho father of the lad convict-* •ed of the serious offence of -ill treating a calf, I beg you to kindly allow me apace to say a for/ words in connection with the same. I am not going to find fault with ' the decision of the Bench, but - this I do claim, the evidence tendered by tho wit- /' nesses for . the prosecution (although differ- " • ing in many points) was. taken as goape! truth, whilst, there was nothing to ,prove that the animal had a single mark to show the severity of the castigation it was sup- '•, f <£! posed to have received. As a matter of ' r fact, there wore none to be shown. This must have struck your, readers &9 a peculiar coincidence. I am therefore forcctT to tho conclusion that "my boy has Been unfairly treated. Had ho been put in tho box (and, for the life. of mo, I cannot untterstsndiilrhy ho .was not put there), he would: havo' sworn on oath that ho did not unmercifully boat the animal, or cruelly illuso it in any way. Apart from all that transpired at the Court, I personally can swear that I h%vo never known him to bo cruel to any j&i- • 1 mal," but, on tho other band, from fng | fancy has been devotedly attachedifclP Y; horses, cattle, etc., unci on more than ono occasion has narrowly escaped with his life through his solicitude on. their behalf. .In . conclusion, I am told that the inspector for tho Society for the, Prevention of Cruel*? to Animals never oven saw the calfi-otftpr . which the prosecution was made. K'ifiat satisfactory? F. W. HAitEJJiSrcgl"'' / ' May 6 • "■ :