CRUELTY TO HORSES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2815, 26 February 1908, Page 12

CRUELTY TO HORSES.

A SHOCKING CASE. NEW PLYMOUTH, February 18. On Saturday night someone who had seen cruelty inflicted on a team of horses being driven between here and Okato told the police what he had seen. On Monday Constables M'lvor and Rowlands watched for the waggon coming into town. When, they saw it they ordered the driver to stop, and they examined the five horses. There was only one sound horse in the team, four of the poor brutes being totally unfit to be used. Their shoulders were unsightly with cruel protruding sores. One horse in particular was in a state to make one's feelings revolt. The collars and some sacking were besmeared with blood and sickening matter. The police arrested the driver (Stanley Wooldridge. of Okato) and had the horses placed in stables.

This morning Wooldridg-e was brought before the court on a charge of cruelly llltreating the four horses by driving 1 them whilst they were suffering from sora shoulders. Accused pleaded guilty. The court examined the horses, and his Worship (Mr H. S. Fitzherbcrt) expressed iii 6 feelings on the matter by denouncing tho case as one of the worst he had known. Sentence was deferred, and accused was remanded to appear on the 24th inst. His father (W. H. Wooldridge, of Okato) will be subpoenaed to appear. The court ordered that the horses should be turned out in a paddock and not used until well. The accused was allowed out of custody on his own recognisance of £20.

Those troubled with sleeplessness should take a warm bath with a handful of salt iv it just before retiring.