CRUELTY TO A DOG.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3776, 26 October 1907, Page 3

CRUELTY TO A DOG.

Auckland, October 14. The case in which Richard Henwood was charged with'cruelty to a greyhound at Mangere by refusing to terminate its sufferings after having fired a shot at it, and also with threatening Arthur Neville with a’loaded gun, and with using insulting language, was continued at the Police Court before Mr Kettle, S.M. His Worship expressed the opinion that the act of shooting at the dog, intending to kill it, was not of itself cruelty, while the fact that he failed to destroy it afterwadrs did not affect the position. He had no doubt that the shot was illegal, but an action in the Civil would be the remedy in that case. As for the threatening behaviour, he was satisfied that the gun was pointed at Neville, and also, on the evidence, that the alleged insulting language was used. On the charge of cruelty the information would be dismissed and a conviction would be recorded in each of the remaining two cases, with a fine of 5s and costs in both.

Mr Kettle commented on the gross liberty taken by people with coursing dogs in trespassing upon the properties of farmers, whose income often depended on their sheep and cattle, and to whom such trespassing was in the last degree annoying.

The sense of a mother’s responsibility was impressed on a barmaid named Minnie M’Donald at W ellington, this week, when she was charged before Mr Riddell, S.M., with having failed to provide for tJhT maintenance of her child. Sub-Inspector O’Donovan stated that the defendant left the child in a licensed home at Mitchelltown some two years ago. She fell into arrears with maintenance payments to the extent of £9 xos, and then went to Dannevirke. The foster mother wrote to her several times tor money,- but, getting no reply, placed the matter in the hands of the police,. who traced her to Napier. The defendant said she tried her best to keep up the paj’mants, but “fell back.” Hie Worship , committed the child to the Wellington Receiving Home, and ordered the defendant to pay 7s a week towards the support of the child. The arrears mentioned by the police, his Worship formed a civil debt owing by de..endant to the foster mothe r.