STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 November 1922, Page 6

STRATFORD.

DAILY NEWS AGENCY. Advertisements and items of news for ln the Taranaki Dally News should be left at the office of our local ropresentatatire, care Mr. W. H. Humphrey, Broadway, Stratford. Orders for papers may also be lefi with him. MAGISTRATE’S COURT. CRUELTY TO A HORSE. Nov. 20. At the Stratford Court to-day, before Mr. A. M. Mowlem, S.M., Philip O’Brien of Finnerty Road, was charged with cruelly treating a horse. Constable Chesnutt said he visited accused’s farm on November S and found the horse suffering from a wound about 21 inches in. circumference, the bone being exposed. Accused had told him that the horse had been like that for two or three days. O'Brien would not get a vet., and said the horse would he all right. The veterinary surgeon insisted that something should be done for ihe horse, and O’Brien eventually agreed io shoot it. The horse was in a paddock where there was plenty of feed and water, but it would be difficult for the horse to get at the water in its then condition. ** Richard Wood, Government veterinary surgeon, described the wound as a frightful one, and said the horse was suffering great pain. The wound was as large as the constable had said, and it was five inches deep. Nothing had been done for the horse, and he characterised the treatment as gross cruelty. The defendant^said he was in bed with a "bad leg when the horse was injured. He got up and saw that the horse was bleeding. He then went back to bed after telling his man to put the horse in a certain paddock. The man reported to him on the horse’s progress, and he believed it to be doing as well as could be expected. He believed if he had put anything on the wound he would have caused the horse more pain. If he had thought the horse was suffering undue pain and could not be saved he would have been the first to shoot it. The wound was only three inches deep, and there was an inch and a half of flesh covering the joint. The bone was not exposed.

The magistrate said there was evidence of accused’s callous indifference to the great suffering the horse must have endured, which amounted to an example of mens rea. Nothing whatever had been done to relieve the horse’s suffering. He had no difficulty in finding evidence of a guilty mind. Those who had animals were supposed to know sufficient for their reasonable care. They were not supposed to be experts, hut they were not expected to be ‘‘numbskulls.” Defendant was fined £5 and ordered to pay costs £3 12s Bd.

VEHICLES LICENSING LAWS. The licensing by-laws ease, the Stratford County Council v. Archibald and Blackwell, which has been before the Stratford Court on several occasions, was finally disposed of. Archibald was charged on two counts with plying a motor-car for hire in the Stratford county without a license, and with failing to have the license number painted on the car. Blackwell was also charged on two counts with being the driver of an. unlicensed car, and with failing to produce a license when requested to do so by the inspector. The four informations were taken concurrently. The charge against Blackwell for failing to produce a license was withdrawn at the conclusion of lengthy evidence, and counsels’ addresses occupied the greater part of the afternoon. His Worship reserved his decision. LIGHTING BY-LAWS. Percy Alger, charged with riding a cycle at night without a light, was fined 10s, with costs 7s. For driving a horse and gig without lights Ronald McCracken was fined £l, with costs 7s. MAINTENANCE CASE. Walter Brown, municipal caretaker, was charged with failing to maintain his wife. Defendant was ordered to pay 12s fid per week to the clerk of the Court. UNDEFENDED CASES. Judgment for plaintiff by default was given in the following undefended civil cases: R. D. R. Lewers v. C. J. Worthington. JES 19s fid (costs £1 19s dd) ; E. G. Riddle v. E. H. Hupe, £l2 16s (costs £2 14s); Weston Bros. v. Chas. Candy, £l5 5s (costs £1 3s). In a judgment summons, case, at the suit of E. W. Newland, A. J. Hill was ordered to pay £8 9s lOd forthwith, in default 8 days’ imprisonment, the warrant to be suspended if judgment debtor pays £2 per month in reduction of the debt. T. Lamason advertises in this issue some particulars of a sale of furniture at his mart to-day on account of Mrs. C. 'H. Brown. The residents of Stratford and district are notified Ihat Ernest Davies, the London qualified sight-testing optician, visits Stratford every Tuesday, and may be consulted at Mr. Gaffaney’s, Broad way. Hours: 9.30 a.m. to 4 p.m. All the latest Magazines and Periodicals, Fashion Books, the “Best Way” series, etc., etc.; Collins’ Diaries for 1923; now on sale at SV. H. Humphrey’s, Broadway. Stratford.