CHARGE OF CRUELTY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19815, 5 December 1919, Page 7

CHARGE OF CRUELTY.

—. — * OPOSSUM ILLTREATED. KEPT WITH LEG BROKEN. At the Magistrate’s Court this morning, before Mr V. G. Day, S.M., David James White, inspector for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, pracs--JoJ against John Fuller and Leo.nua James Fuller, of Colombo Street, .SycUnhnm, on a charge of cruelty to on opossum Mr W. Hunter appeared for the society and Mr A. S. Taylor for the defendants, who pleaded not guilty. -Mr Hunter said that the opossum had been drained up by defendants at the rear of their shop in Sydenham, when one of its legs was broken and hanging by a piece of skin. The defendants had kept the animal in this condition lor four or live weeks without apparently doing anything for it. David 1 James White said that ho called at ilio shop and found that the opossum - was chained up with a dog chain round its body. One leg was broken and hanging fiom tho body by a. piece of skin. Tho defendants stated that they had caught the animal on tho hills near Kennedy’s Bush four or live necks previously. He took the animal to the Animals Home, where he chloroformed it and removed the log. iho wound was now practically healed. To Mr Taylor: The condition of the leg was practically the only fault ho could find with defendant’s treatment of the animal. It was chained up similar to the manner in which a monkey mus chained, and had a young opossum in its poueh. -Mr laybr, for the defendants, said Hint if there wan any blame attachable in tho case, it was to Leonard Fuller, who had brought the opossum doMii iroiu tho hills with tho intention of getting the young one. Ho had endeavoured to bandage up tho leg, and had treated tho animal M - ell in every respect. Leonard David Fuller stated that, In company with other young men. bo had set, traps on the hills near Kennedy's Kush. The opossum was caught in ono ot tlio traps. The. animal was savage at the time on account of having a young opossum in Us poueh. He had taken them homo with the intention of keeping tho young one, tic iiad done all lie could to heal tho log, and believed that it would iio all right in time. It, was the first time lie hud seen an opossum, and he did not know that ho was doing anything wrong. Mr Hunter: Are yon awaro that you had no right to have tho opossum in your possession)' Defendant replied that he understood lie was allowed to keep it. Tlie Magistrate said that lie did not think it was a case of intentional cruelty, and he would not impose anv penalty. Mr Hunter: Wo don’t ask for a penalty. Tho case is only brought a,s a warning to others The defendant, Leonard David Puller. M-as ordered to pay the costs of tho prosecution together with witnesses’ expenses. Th > case against John Fuller Mas dismissed.