WRITHING IN PAIN

NZ Truth, Issue 1001, 31 January 1925, Page 6

WRITHING IN PAIN

Dying Animal's Travail

Miserable End of a Valuable Mare.

(From "Truth's". South Auckland Rep.)

Cruelty to a horse by indifference to its suffering, rather than by aggression, cost a young man named Harold Barnsdale, £20/10/- m the Hamilton Police Court last week. The prosecution was brought by the local branch of the N.S.P.C.A., the Hon. Secretary Mr D. Seymour, conducting the case for the Society. According to Mr Seymour, Barnsdale was loaned a valuable mare iby a man named Barry, on condition that he fe-i and looked after her and tried to get a buyer for her. Instead of observing these conditions, however, he rode the animal whilst she had a broken pelvis, nasty raw wounds on both flanks and a lacerated mouth and when one of Ker legs gave way and he found he oould proceed no further, he turned her into a paddock on the side of the l-bad, where there was no water supply, and there abandoned her to her fate, not informing the owner of the animal of her condition and location until some days later, when owing to the dreadful state into which she had fallen, she had to be destroyed. The extent of the sufferings of the poor animal may be gathered from the fact that the ground all about the spot where she had been lying, was churned up, apparently by the pawing of the mare m her agony.

A. labourer, of Hillcrest, named William Jamieson, said' he found the mare m one of his paddocks m great agony. There were several ugly sores on her body and she seemed to be unable to move. Witness could not find an owner of the animal and he looked after her as best he could. After the lapse of a week he received . a telephone message from the owner asking him to destroy her. •'

Charles Beisley, another labourer, declared that the ground all about where the animal had been lying was torn up, evidently by the mare when writhing m pain.

Constable Neild, who examined the animal, said she had large open sores on both sides of her body, while her mouth (was also very sore and she could stand on three legs only.

Alexander McKehzie, Government "Veterinarian, who examined the animal at the request of the police, said £he_ lameness was probably due to an old fracture of the pelvis, ■which, owing to heavy work or strain had pro•bably reasserted itself. The galls, m his opinion, were due to the saddle and girth.'

The owner of the horse, William Frederick Barry, said that when he loaned the animal to Barns dale, it bore no marks whatever. She was rather a valuable mare, witness having refused £28 for her only a few months previously. When he examined her m Jamieson's paddock she was m such a parlous condition that he had to order her destruction.

The defence was a complete and emphatic denial of any cruelty. The owner of the mare, Barry, said Mr W. J. King, (who appeared for the defence), not being able to get what he 'wanted for the animal at public auction, invited Barasdale, with whom he was acquainted, to make whatever use ■of her he wished, on condition that he would try to sell her. Defendant rode her for three days, but on the fourth she stumbled when passing- through Hillcrest. He immediately dismounted, and, thinking the injury was only slight, he turned the animal into a nearby paddock, intending to take her away that evening. He was unable to do so, however. : ' ' '

Defendant, m evidence, said he had no idea there, was anything seriously wrong with the animal. He was sure there were no sores on her sides when he turned her into the paddock. He had taken every precaution for her welfare and thought that when he informed the owner of where she was his responsibility ended.

Defendant was found guilty of cruelty' and fined £10 and ordered to pay witness's expenses, £4 10s, Court costs, 15s, and solicitor's fee, £5 ss.