POLICE-COURT. THIS DAY.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 10329, 10 June 1895, Page 2

POLICE-COURT. THIS DAY.

Monday, June 10. — Before R. Cock, - Esq., J.P., F. A. Garrington, Esq., J.P., and D. Berry, Esq., J.P. . - Alleged, Dog Shootjxg; — William Guylard, 'junr., was charged with wilfully destroying, on April 30, a brindled dog of the value of £5, the property of Young Booker, of Maude Itoad. —Mr Kerr appeared for the informant, and Mr Wiseman for the defendant.— Mr Kerr called Young Booker^ the informant, who stated that on the day in question he was in camp on the Maude Boad, and defendant was camped near. Ho owned a bull and cattle dog, for which he bad been offered £5, but refused. ,He would not have taken £10 for the dog. The dog wa3 not in the habit of thieving from other camps ;he was an honest dog. On the date in quostion the dog was shot. The defendant told' witness and his two brothers that he had shot tho dog, ' GaylarJ said that a dog had been stealing his meat, and he concluded it was witness's dog. Witness heard two distinct shots. He had applied to defendant for compensation, but the defendant always refused. He had a conversation with a Justice of the Peace, and in consequence of the advice he got he laid tho present information against the defendant. -By Mr Wiseman : Ho was a settler. Between January and April he had no cattle on his place. The dog was useful to bring firewood and run errands ; the dog could do almost anything. The defendant did not offer him £2 as compensation for shooting the dog. — Other evidence wa3 given as to the value and habits of the dog. — Tho evidenoo for the defence was to th« efDeot that the dog was a nuisance to the defendant, stealing meat from the camp. ' \" ' The Bench ordered defendant to pay £2, each to pay his own coats ; in default, 14.dayi. The Court rose.