A CRUEL FIEND.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVIII, Issue 81918, 28 February 1907, Page 3

A CRUEL FIEND.

BRATING A DOG TO DEATH

Last week at the Gisbornc Police Court, before Jl r Barton, S.M., Stephen Bowers, laborer, hailing from L.vttelton, was charged with cruelty treating a Jog at U'aihohu, on the 4th just. He pleaded not guilty. Joseph Gurz'nski, a laborer, said he was working cm the railway, and on the 4th inst., while lie was having his lunch the accused came along leading a dog, and riding oil a bay horse. The I dog appeared (0 be very t'red and knocked up; it hung back; and the accused got oil' the horse and beat ii with a rope, kicked it half a dozen times, and then got 011 his horse and

started to lead the dog again. llt did not go very far when flic dog refused to movl', and then the accused again beat it with a rope and kicked it many times, Tlu; dog still refused to follow, and the accused then took oil' ;lie rope and chain and left I lie animal in the road. It was unable to get up, and when offered wa tor "it re fused to drink. The poor creature died about half-an-hour after the accused left it.

Frederick Allen Cley said he was l at dinner oil the day in question, and he heard a dog yelping. He went out to

see what was the matter, and he then saw a dog lying ia the middle of the road. He got some wafer and offered it to the dog, but it was too far gone to drink, lie examined it, and it appeared to him that its back was broken. It was a crossbred staghound.

Constable Doyle depose;! to having seen defendant wilh a dog 0,11 the date in quest,oll. The animal appeared to be healthy anil full of life. Witness afterwards arrested the accused 011 the charge of cruelty and he denied the ill-treatment.

Bowers) mow went into the "witness box and gave evidence in his own behalf. lie said that when lie started out with the dog it appeared to be well, but when he. had gone about three-quarters of a mile it knocked out. He got off his horse and took the dug to the creek and washed its mouth out. .It then had a good drink. After going about a mile further it knocked out altogether. As there was no water handy he put it on 'the horse and carried it nearly two mileaj until he came to some more water. After resting a few minutes (lie dog seemed to pick up again, and) followed him some distance, when it again began pulling back. He got oil' his horse arid lifted the dog on to his feet, but he .■could riot sjtand, ,and lay [down, again. He examined its tongue and found that it was very much swollen, and also very dirty, lie stopped with it some time, and then dragged it in the shade of a treo. There lie took tlie collar ami chain oil' the dog, and sat down beside it for about five minutes. It would not get up. Finding that it would not move he got on his horse, and rode ten or twelve yards away. On looking back he noticed the dog lifting his head up, and he then went back to coax him. The dog appeared to be in pain and would mot get up, so he left.it there under the tree. By Detective Maddern: The dog was a puppy. He had only hit the dog once with a rope, and very lightly. lie did not know either of the witnesses who had given evidence in the case.

Tlie Magistrate; Can you account for the witness saying that you had beaten and kicked the dog. Defendant: No. The Magistrate: Neither can I. After some further questions had bee,n put to the accused by Air Maddern, bis Worship said he was satislied the oll'ciice had been committed. The accused had treated the, dog ill a most brutal manner; lie had persisted in dragging tlio dog, and in beating and kicking it. II was sometimesnecessary to beat dogs, but the punishment, should not I.C such aft amount ed to cruelty. The licensed would be fiend .to and costs, in default 14 days imprisonment with hard labor. The accused was further charged that in February last year lie left New Zealand w.thout milking any adequate provision for the illegitimate child of Jlnry Ann (loodchild, he being the father of the child. On the apprcation of i lie police, itlic case was ] adjourned for a week.