POLICE COURT NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14145, 21 August 1909, Page 5

POLICE COURT NEWS.

CRUELTY TO A HORSE.

A case of cruelty to a horse came before Messrs. S. Banna and William Hall at the Police Court yesterday, when Alexander Leith was charged with, at Auckland, on July 17 cruelly ill-treating a horse by causing it unnecessary pain while killing it.

Sub-Inspector Hendrey, in outlining the case, said that on the elate in question tho horse, which was a poor, miserable, starved •creature, was found lying on tho ground in such a state that it could not rise. The ribs were showing, and tho animal was evidently in a sadly neglected and starved condition. Complaints were made to the police as to tho state of the horse, and a constable went down to investigate. The defendant said ho had just obtained the horse from a cab-driver. The constable suggested that it should bo properly clothed and fed, and if it could not bo got up, killed. Defendant could not get the horse up and killed it. The usual way of killing an animal was to put a bullet in its brain, but defendant hit the horse several times on tho head with an axe. and then went away and came back with a knife and severed the jugular vein. The horse apparently died of exhaustion. Evidence more or less to the above effect was given by Jessie Milner, Thomas Moylan, and tho police officer. Defendant stated he was going to buy tho horse from a cab-driver, and he had just obtained possession of it. Ho was going to give it a feed, but it fell down. He then thought it no further use bothering about it, and so got an axe and gave it a smack on the head, killing it instantaneously, as the horse had never moved after. This was the recognised way of killing an.imals. Defendant was fined £1 and costs.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Three first offenders for drunkenness wcro convicted and discharged. Vincent Challoner, upon a charge of indecent assault upon a girl four years of age, was committed for trial, bail being allowed in two sureties of £50 each.

Ernest Walker, a cabman, was charged that on July 9 last, while acting as driver of a vehicle, he did not have and hold proper and sufficient, control of reins. Tho substance of the charge was that he was found asleep in his cab by a constable. A fine of £1 and costs was inflicted.

A charge against Atkinson Webb of intended wife-desertion was adjourned till August 24, bail being allowed in one surety of £50, and two of £25 each, or one of £50. On a charge of wife-desertion, Frederick E. Johnston was remanded till Tuesday.