POLICE COURT NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18019, 18 February 1922, Page 7

POLICE COURT NEWS.

CRUELTY TO A HORSE.

PENALTY OF £10 IMPOSED. A charge of having ill-treated a mare was denied by Herbert A. Foster, who appeared before Mr. J. W. Poynton, S.M., in the Police Court yesterday. Constable Ryan said he saw accused riding a chestnut mare on December 24, and examined the animal next day. There was a swelling about 2ft. 6in. long, Bin. wide, and 3in. deep on the right side. It was covered with spur punctures from which blood was flowing. There was a similar swelling in the same condition on the animal's left side. There was a large raw sore on her back, where the saddle rested. She was tied in a paddock by a rope and without food or water. She was in a shocking state, and evidently in agony. The spurs used by accused were bloodstained. Norman Webster, Inspector of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, corroborated the constable's evidenco as to the condition of the mare two days after she had been ridden by accused. Accused called T. O'Halloran, veterinary surgeon, on his behalf. Witness said he caw the animal on December 28. She vas evidently not well. The treatment she had received would not have had such an effect had she been in better health and conditionMr. Poynton said it was a very bad case, and deserved a severe penalty. Accused was fined £10 and lis costs.

TRESPASSING ON RACECOURSE. For having trespassed on the Ellevslie racecourse, John Sercombe, who had previously been fined £20 for betting on a racecourse and warned off was fined £5 and costs, being allowed a month in which to pay. On a similar charge George McLean was also fined £5 and costs.

RABBITS NOT DESTROYED. When J. T. Harris (Mr. Bennett) was charged with having failed to destroy rabbits on his property, he stated that he had since given up the farm he had occupied. In imposing a fine of £5 the magistrate said he would have imposed the maximum penalty of £100 had defendant not left the property.

YOUTHS IN TROUBLE Four bovs admitted having broken a lock valued at 12s 6d on a r.hed on the waterfront. It was explained that they forced the lock in order to get shelter from the rain. There was no suggestion of theft or pilfering on their part. In view of the fact that nothing was known against them they were ordered to pay the damage and be more careful in future.

ACCIDENT NOT NOTIFIED.

Failure to report an accident within 24 hours of its occurrence resulted in J. X. Julian and Sons, Ltd., being fined £1 and costs.