"A ROTTEN CRUEL ACT."

Taranaki Daily News, 16 May 1916, Page 2

"A ROTTEN CRUEL ACT."

EJECTING A KITTEN. MAN HEAVILY FINED. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, May 13. Throwing a kitten out of a building was the cause of a man named Henry Randall appearing before Mr. D. 6. A. Cooper, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court yesterday in answer to a charge of cruelty to the animal. Mr. R. H. Webb prosecuted on behalf of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and defendant was unrepresented by counsel. Accused admitted throwing the kitten out on to the street, but denied being cruel to it. David K. Blair, consulting engineer, deposed that he was walking along W'hitmore street at aDout 1 o'clock on the afternoon of April 4, when he saw accused throw the kitten from the steps or the Sailors' Rest as high in the air as lie possibly could. Witness estimated that the animal traversed between 15 and 20 feet in the air, and came to the ground about ISO feet across the street, in the direction of the telephone exchange. The kitten, through the treatment it was subjected to, was nearly "done in." Three sailors came along at the time and were annoyed at what they had witnessed. The men picked the creature up and t»ok care of it. Randall in the meantime ran back into the building and closed the door. Defendant said it was about midday when he threw the kitten out, and not J o'clock, as stated. His Worship: "Do you expect me to discredit Mr. Blair's evidence because of a difference in time?"

"Yes," replied accused. "Well, you are very much mistaken. You deserve to be sent to gaol without an option, for your rotten, cruel act. You will be fined £5, with costs £1 I.Bs, in default to he imprisoned for one month."