CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2207, 18 June 1896, Page 37

CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.

At Milton on Monday, before Mr R. S. Hawkins, S.M., Richard William Anderton was charged with cruelly beating a horse at Clarksville.— Mr Reid appeared for Mr Aitken, inspector for tht Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.— Evidenqe was given by. Eliza M'Ewan and Francis G. Johnstone, who saw the defendant beating the horse severely with a whip and part of tbe harness for a considerable time.— R. T. Aitken in his evidence stated that if a horse was punished for halt an hour with the carter's whip produced he considered it illtreatment. The fact that the horse was brought to such a state of perspiration, as was described by Johnstone, was sufficient to show undue punishment.— Richard William Anderton (the defendant) in his evidence said that on the night of May 16 he yoked up the horse and tried to get it to start. It would not move, but started to run back. He thrashed it, but not cruelly. H« tried it several times in between to see if it would go, but it would not move. Finally it broke .the shaft, when he unyoked it find put it in the stable. The whole thing lasted' about ' 10 minutes.— Julia Orlawaki, who was in the express at the time, did not think the' horse had been cruelly beaten. The beating occupied about 10 minutes.— The' father of defendant cave evidence as to the time, and stated that he looked at'tha nors'o- next morning, when there was nothing wrong with It. There was not a mark on tho hone.— His Worship held that the case wa« proved, and fined defendant £2 and costs (j6l 13a

A family near Masterton narrowly escaped being poisoned through mistaking arsenio for •alb. The error was discovered just as th*> meal was bein $ oonmenced*