CRUELTY TO HIS HORSE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18294, 10 January 1923, Page 8

CRUELTY TO HIS HORSE.

CONTRACTOR'S CALLOUSNESS.

FINE OF £20 IMPOSED.

StJPFEEING ANIMAL DESTROYED. [BY TSXECHIAPH.— CORRESPONDENT.]

MAUNGATTJROTO. Tuesday. A case of more than usual-cruelty to a horse came before the Police Court last week. The evidence showed that the accused, a contractor named Curtis, working on the railway construction works at McCarroll's Gap, by careless driving, got the ring of the horse's bridle into the horse's mouth. When he went to unharness the animal he found its tongue had got through the ring and was so, swollen that he could not release it.

The horse was then turned out with the headstall on, and the horse, no doubt being in pain, had probably pulled, it off during the night. When the horse was found next day it was discovered that a portion of the tongue had been torn away* and that the organ was terribly lacerated. Despite the tact that the unfortunate, animal could neither eat nor drink, it was left for three days until Constable Boag, having been advised of the case, went out with a Justice of the' Peace. After an examination, the latter ordered the immediate destruction of the horse.*

On the case coming before the Court the Justices considered such extraordinary callousness had been shown that they inflicted the maximum fine of £20, with ..costs, £6, or an alternative of three months' imprisonment. " The : fine was paid.