CRUELTY TO A HORSE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3196, 16 June 1915, Page 6

CRUELTY TO A HORSE.

MAN FINED £5. WELLINGTON, June 10.

Although power is given in the Police Offences Act* it is not often that a person is actually arrested for cruelty to a horse. Such a course was adopted to-day by _ Sergeant Fitzpatrick. Ho discovered "a horse in anything but good condition, suffering from big red open sores beneath the saddle, which was minus the padding. The horse appeared to be in great pain. The driver was Walter Monkhouse, and when he appeared before Mr Cooper, S.M., at the Magistrate’s Court he pleaded guilty to cruelly ill-treating a horse by working it with an open sore on its back. “In that case,” said Inspector Hendry, “I would like your Worship to see the horse. It is outside the court, and speaks for its own sufferings.” Mr Cooper consented to see the horse, and on returning to the court he said to tho defendant: “It fs a pity that blackguards like you cannot be thrashed for committing an offence like this.” . c . The Defendant: “But it is my first offence. I have never been before a court until this time. I have only > just started driving. It is my first offence. His Worship: “Your first offence? You must have known all the time how that poor horse was suffering.” „ Tho Defendant: ‘ No, I didn t. His Worship: “ Nonsense 1 You are fined £5, in default two months hard labour. The Defendant: Will you gne mq time?” , „ His Worship: ‘ No; I wont.