ILLTREATING A BULL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4948, 8 March 1926, Page 2

ILLTREATING A BULL.

SHOTGUN FIRED AT ANIMAL.

SHAREMILKER FINED.

At the Police Court at Paeroa this morning, before Mr J. H. Salmon, S.M., Charley C. Oakes* sharemilker, Cadman Road, Paeroa, was charged with cruelly ill-treating a bull by wounding it with two shots fired from a gun. A plea of not guilty; was entered.

‘ David Marshall, Tirohia, stated that he was the owner of the bull in .question; The animal was generally a quiet one. It had been shot along the i back, and although the wounds were now healed, the pellets’ were still in thq.hide. Constable McClinchy stated that he had received a telephone message from Marshall on the date in question. The bull had been shot, and was bleeding profusely along the back. In an interview defendant admitted having shot at the animal, which he alleged had been a nuisance to him and his stock. Number four shot had been used in the shotgun. The animal did not appear to be distressed as a result of its injuries.

In defence Oakes said that his bull was a valuable one, and. Marshall’s was, a fighter and a nuisance. Marshall’s bull had previously charged him. Before shooting at the animal he had endeavoured to drive it away with a batten, and with the aid of dogs, but without success. The bull was between 46 and 48 paces away when he fired. He and Marshall had always been good friends. It was not until he had seen his wife and child crossing the paddock that he had fired the gun. His Worship said that it was the old story of badi fences. He believed that there was no danger to the wife and child, and that defendant had become angry at / not being able to drive the bull out by ordinary means. In convicting and fining defendant £2 and cOsta' amounting to £1 4s the Bench suggested that the fences should be repaired without hirther delay. '