Cruelty to a Horse.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7176, 29 May 1891, Page 3

Cruelty to a Horse.

' At the Resident Magistrate's Conrt, Chriatehurch, this morning, before Messrs R. Westenra and T. D. Acland, J.P.'a, . Alexander Clephane was charged with I cruelty to a horse on May 6. I Mr Cresswell, who prosecuted for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, said that the charge was brought under that section of the Act, that made a master responsible for the fault of his servant, provided that knowledge and consent were proved. A. W. Smith : Was Assistant Secretary and Inspector to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. In consequence of complaints made to him, he and a constable waited in Tuam Btreet, inside the door of the White Swan Hotel. About a quarter to eight in the morning, saw a horee in a cart, driven by a man named Hunter, pull up near the hotel. Took the names of the men iu the cart. Examined the horse, which was in very bad condition, and suffering from a wound on the sheath. The horse was very old and emaciated, and the wound was easily visible j in fact, could not be missed. The animal was not fit to drag an empty cart, let alone the task it was set to do. Constable O'Leary: There were Beven other men in the cart, besides Hunter. The wound on the horse was very painful, and it was cruel to use the hone in such a state. Mounted Constable Kelso : Went to Sockburn, and saw the horse in question in work. It was being driven by a man named Charles Hunter. There were seven others in the trap. Considered that it was cruelty to use the horse in the state that it was in. A. Clephane admitted the horse was his. Thomas Hill, Veterinary Surgeon : Saw the horse in question. It was very old and emaciated in condition, and was suffering from a bad tumour. Taking the hor_e's age and condition, and the tumour, it was one of the worst cases of cruelty that had come under his notice for many years, and if the horse [could not be cured it should either be|killed or turned out. Defendant Clephane said that he had had the horse for twelve years, and had a lot of trouble with it. About four or five years ago he had taken the horse to Mr Hill to be operated upon, but Mr Hill declined. The horse was a good one, and so he did not want to lose it. It had a spell, and had only been in work tbat time about two months. Sometimes it was worse and sometimes better, but it never flinched and was better when doing a little work. The animal was sixteen years old, so far aB witness knew. He used to bathe the wound. The horse was outside the Court for the Bench to examine it. After examining the horse, the Bench said it would have been better for defendant if he had not asked them to look at the horse, for, in their long experience of horses, they had not seen such a case, and the horse should be shot or turned out at once. To mark their sense of the gravity of the case, defendant would be fined £5 and costs, including a solicitor's fee. Charles Hunter was then charged with cruelly overloading the same horse on May 6. The evidence called waß the same as in the previous case. Mr Cresßwell, who appeared for the S.P.C.A., did not wißh to press the charge, and it was withdrawn by leave of the Bench.