The Evening Star. THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 1871.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 375, 23 March 1871, Page 2

The Evening Star. THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 1871.

Anything- more cold-blooded in its brutality than the eouducfc of Special Constable Gee, as revealed in all its sickening details in the Police Court-to-day, it is hardly possible to conceive. How a man residing among civilized men could have nourished within him passions capable of wreaking such vengeance on a poor harmless little animal, is scarcely credible ; and that a.person capable oi such conduct should have found his way into a responsible position, and become the sole guardian in a district of tho peace of that district is one of those things not very creditable to Auckland. Eroru the evidence, it appears that Gee, having been defeated in a Police Courtcase, which had only been broughb in spite, called his God to witness that he would have vengeance. To what length such a man might go, it is impossible to say, but as a specimen of what he would perhaps have done to Mr. Orme, had he only dared, he took his dog, beat his head with savage fury against the wall, dragged the poor animal bleeding and vomiting, and in the agonies of death, along the rough scoria road, beat it further on the head with a spade-handle, and then covered it up with earth, while still breathing and struggling with death. "We had previously drawn attention to this ca;-;e. Knowing the efforts that were being used for the defence of Constable Gee, we desired the eyes of the public to be fixed upon if. Two able and earnest lawyers, employed, as we understand, by the members of the Devonport Highway Board, have defended him, with a zeal that must be regarded as having gone a little beyond the bounds of decorum ; and with emphasis, the Bench declared that the case has been fully proved, and Constable Gee, sworn to preserve the peace of North Shore, stands now convicted of a " wanton " and " cruel " breach of law. This is the sole protector of the lieges in that suburb ; a man who swore by his God that he would have revenge; and- who has taken it with fiendish malignity. We would ask is there not danger in allowing such a man to reside in a district, to say nothing of his holding a commission in the district. If remains to be seen what will be the effect of the .conviction on those from whom he holds that commission. Erom the zeal which the members of the Devonport Highway Board have shown in this cause, it is to be presumed that an attempt will be made to retain him in office. Erom his usefulness in milking the cows and doing other menial services for one of the members of that Board, his "private worth" will, perhaps, outweigh his " public services," but we ask in flu. name of ail that is humane, will the authorities not interpose ? For killing the dog at all, without keeping it previously for forty-eight hours, the constable violated the law, and in the manner of killing it, he outraged humanity. The self-restraint of Mr. Orme in standing by and seeing the man with his evil passions stereotyped in his countenance, torturing a pet animal, is deserving of all praise. Few would have acted as Mr. Orme acted on the occasion, and the man Gee may congratulate himself on that selfrestraint ; for we do not hesitate to say that with nine-tenths of men lie should have met with instant and summary punishment, and both law and public feeling would have condoned the act. To Mr. Wynn a debt of public gratitude is due for his generous and spirited conduct; for the malignity that would torture a helpless animal would if unrestrained soon turn on the human race. We shall note what will be the action taken by the authorities on this case, and refer to it on another occasion. We would only add—and we do it in the interest of public safety—that a man capable of such a threat, and so fiendish cruelty, in the execution of it, is dangerous to those who have offended him, and imperils the public peace.