ILL-TREATING A HEIFER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16984, 7 March 1923, Page 4

ILL-TREATING A HEIFER.

DEFENDANT’S WEAK EXCUSE. Lawrence Taylor was proceeded against by the Society for Prevention 01 Cruelty to Animats at the MagisCourt- to-day for cruelly illtreating a young heifer. Mr s'. J. Hunter, who appeared for the society, said that the defendant bad belaboured a heifer on the face with a thick riding whip while ho was driving it along the road. The defendant’<s wife was assisting by striking the rear of. the animal. After it had been treated in this manner for a time it fell down in a collapse. Mrs .Fowler said that she had sold the heifer and it was being taken away. She saw the defendant ill-treating it on the road, and she later saw it lying on the road. Blood was oozing from cuts all over the animal’s body and the eyes were cut and inflamed. 1). J. White, inspector for the society, gave evidence of examining the injuries. Mr Jiascelles on defendant’s behalf said that he was a drover of twenty years’ experience and he had used only the ordinary reasonable methods of a drover in dealing with a contrary beast. Taylor said he had difficulty with the heifer, which had broken away about two chains from Mrs Fowler’s gate and he had to ride after it on horseback. He had not used a whip, but had used a light switch. The whole trouble was that the animal was disturbed by Mrs Fowler, who had -said as it wont away l: Good bye, Nancy.” From that time it became uncontrollable. The Magistrate said that he did not believe the defendant’s story and lie would be fined 40s and costs.