MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2450, 1 May 1915, Page 4

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

ALLEGED CRUELTY A SHEEPDOG'S FALL A peouliar case of alleged oruelfcy was heard before Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M., iu the Magistrate's Court yesterday, when Frederick Futter, of Jonnsonville, was charged that at Ngahauranga Gorge he did cruelly ill-troat a dog by throwing it over a cliff. Mr. T. Neave appeared for the prosecution, which was laid by Captain Henry, inspector for the S.P.C.A., and defendant was represented by Mr. D Jackson. Thomas John Leighton gave evidence that ho saw defendant on the date in' question on the right-hand side of the road. The bottom of the creek was about 300 ft. below, with a ten-foot drop at the top, and then a very sudden slope to the bottom. He saw defendant pick the dog up and throw it over. The dog went ovor and over and rolled to the bottom. Witness thought the dog had been shot, and he told two men what had taken place. Defendant came half-way down, whistled the dog, and then went back. Witness 6aw the dog crawling awaj, and it was evidently hurt. ' A. lad of 12 years gave evidence that he saw defendant seizo the dog by the tail, and throw it over the cliff. For the defence it was contended that defendant was out after sheep with a dog, which was a timid animal. He was leading tho dog to the cliff to go after 6heep when it snapped at him. He threw it away to save himself, and the dog fell over the cliff. Within, ten minutes the dog rejoined him, and worked all day. ft was not hurt in the slightest degree. The case was adjourned to allow his Worship to visit the soene of tho occurrence.

j BY-LAW CASES. . A long list of offenders against the by-laws was dealt with. For allowing stock to wander the. following defendants were fined sums ranging from ss. to 10s., with costs: —0. Bethell, Albert Gooch, Cecil Graham, Arthur Lawton, Henry Mitchell, E. Boulton, Joseph James Moore, M'Parland Bros., Maurice O'Connor, Lavington M'Williams, .Paul Olsen, Stavely, and _ Waite, William Taylor, and John Wilcox. A fine of 55., with 7s. costs, was imposed on Mary M'Farlane and Minnie John for'being in possession of unregistered dogs. Olive Basset and JDmily Murray, for similar offences, were ordered to pay costs Be. each. Ernest Bray, for taking shingle off Broadway Avenue, Ohiro Bay, was fined £1, with 17s. costs. . John Proctor, for furiously driving a motor-car, was fined £2, with 7s. costs. Sniall fines for various other breaches were imposed on John Alfred Bradley, Harold William Brown, Benjamin Knight, and Godfrey Magnus. For failing to close his shop at the time appointed, Peter Ball, manager for J. M'lvenzi'i's fancy goods' shop, m Willis Street, was fined £3.

. POLICE CASES. Mr. G. Cruickshank, S.M., presided at a sitting of the Magistrate's Court yesterday. ' ~ •Mary Sprowell> for aruiiksnness, sentenced to one month's imprisonment, and for similar offences Christina Olseii and Micliael M'Mahon were each fined 10s., in default 48 linurs' imprisonment. Six first offenders were dealt with ill tho ordinary manner. . ' Riohard Spiridler and James Connelly, for absenting themselves from tho s.s. Pakeha without leave, were sentenced to imprisonment for 14 days, to bo put on board if tlioir vossel sails in the meantime Phillip Rollison, an elderly man, was remanded to appear ut Christchurch on Monday, on a charge of having committed incest at Glen Tunnel, Canterbury. Elizabeth Kempton, charged that she was a rogue and a vagabond, in that she was found by night on private property, was convicted and ordered to come tip for sentence when called on.