MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 October 1922, Page 4

MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

THURSDAY, OCT. 12th

(Before W. Meldrum, Esq. S.M.)

ALLEGED CRUELTY

Tho police charged Emily Henderson with having cruelly ill-treated a horse. Mr Murdoch for defendant pleaded not guilty. George Inglis deposed he lived at Ruatapu. Tie part owned a horse called “Blucher.” They missed him from .their paddock and about a fortnight later saw him dead on the roodside near Kaniori. Ho had been in good fair condition. When dead there was a big black patch on the back, with the hair off it, and yellow underneath, the results apparently of caustic soda.' There was also a. bare patch on tho riles. Could not say what tho cost was. Valued it at £lO.

To Mr Murdoch.—The horse was known as Pfahlert’s horso. Could not •say if it was 30 years old. Ho could not say when tho mark was put on the horse.

Mary Robertson deposed she resided on Kaniori Tram and was a neighbour of Mrs Henderson’s. Remembered a horse being a pest in that locaUtj about throe weeks ago. Mrs Ilondeison told her that Blucher had been up and broken into , her garden, and had caused a deal of damage and if he came back she would scald him with caustic soda'.

Lily Robertson (ten years of ago) stated she remembered the horse Blucher. She saw Mr Winter throw something over tho horse. Mrs Henderson brought the stuff out of the house. The horse ran away. Saw the horse later, it had a bare mark on its back. Tho stuff was in a dipper. To the Magistrate.—Mrs Henderson brought out the dipper and was going to throw it over th« horso when Mr Winter said lie would do it and Mrs Henderson gave him the dipper and lie threw it over it. Tho horse then galloped away. Constable Houston of Itinui deposed as a result of enquiries he found a dead horse with a black patch on the back, 2ft by lOin. tho hair burned oil, thr. flesh was black and in a raw condition. There eyas another patch 18in by 8 on the left ribs. The hair was burned off, and th:i flesh was in a raw condition. It appeared to have been a couple of days dead. That was on September 30th. Interviewed .Mrs Henderson and she said slip had been annoyed by a. horse. Took heir explanation in writing and she signed it. This stated that the horso Blucher had so annoyed her by breaking into her place that sho go a dipper of boiling water, put some kerosene and caustic soap, and threw it over the horse, which ran away, but had returned on two or three occasions. That she had put the stuff in to make it sting, but did not liavo any idea that it would injure tho animal. To Mr .Murdoch.—Had no experience that kerosene in cold water would take the hair off a horse. Was quite certain Mrs Henderson said if was boi tying water. yShei said the Kor.sc* came hack ail hour or two after.

This was the case for the police

Evidence v. as lad for the defence by Mr Murdoch Emily Henderson, the defendant de- . posed she had known tho horse, Blucher for 25 years. Tt was a pyst t:; the neighbourhood. It was about 6.30 in tlie- afternoon. She had been boiling ai.rens in a. kerosene tin. She put her bands in tin* water to wash the aprons. It had no effect on the hands. The water wan hot, but bad been off the fire about 10 to Id minutes. She put some kerosene info the dipper of hot water, for the purpose of washing tho dogs in the evening. Then the horse came along and she got the dipper. .As she was coming out with the stuff Mr Winter came along. Hu took the dipper from her and (throw the .contents over the horse. The water was not hot enough to scald the horse. When put on the horse ran lip the rood. The horso came hack twice that night. Sho had been going to wash the dogs in that water. When Mr Houston read tho statement do her she said it was l’.ot bailing water. Winter put his hand in the water before he threw it on the horse. To Sorgt King:—When she saw the horse 2 or three days after there was some hair off. (leorgo Winter deposed he was a miner, .residing at Kiinu. Sn.w a horse at Mrs Henderson’s. He took a dinner from Mrs Henderson. It contained soapsuds and kerosene for washing clog». He threw the dipper and contents at the horse and it hit him. Some of the liquid went on his hands and he felt no ill-effects. The hor.-r.i cant tired up the road. The horse came back V, to 1 J hours later. About three (lavs later saw a patch of hair was off about 6 inches square. To Sorgt King.-—The horse suffered no injury from tho contents of the dinner. Jessie Henderson gave evidence in sunnnrt. His Worship in giving judgment said that in coming to his decision he was influencod most by the statement of ’Mrs Henderson to the constable. Taking into consideration the (fact that the horso laid been a decided nuisance- lie thought that a, line of 20s ami costs would meet tho ease. Costs totalled -11 s.