POLICE COURT—Yesterday.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 24, 3 November 1871, Page 3

POLICE COURT— Yesterday.

r-T Before Dr. Kilgour nnd E. W. Puckcy, Esq., J.P.'s. Drunkenness. Thomas Langham, charged with the above offence, said lie had been drunk, he believed, but did not recollect. lie was lined 205., or the usual alternative. Cruelty to Animals. —Joshua Linton was charged, on the information of J. J. Fitz Gibbon and Mr. J. E. Dodd, with illtreating a horse by whipping him in a most brutal manner, at Grahamstown, on the 28th October. —Defendant pleaded not guilty.—J. J. Fitz Gibbon deposed that lie was Postmaster at the Thames. Knew defendant. Saw him at Grahamstown, on the 28th of last month, close to the corner of the Pacific Hotel. AVitness believed him to be in charge of a horse and cart, on the usual stand. AY hen the witness’s attention was first drawn to it, the horse had a nose-bag on. The horse lay down, and when it was, roused, defendant commenced cutting tfie horse upwards with a whip, applying it to the most sensitive parts, between the hind legs. AVitness did not like to see this cruelty, and asked defendant for his name, which lie refused to give. In witness’s opinion the punishment was excessive. The cruelty was not for the purpose of urging the horse to work, the cart being empty on the stand. AA T itness expostulated with defendant, but he would not desist, and refused to desist. Cross-examined by defendant : You did not give your name when asked. By the Court: Defendant was sober to the best of witness’s knowledge.—J. E. Dodd, sworn, deposed that he knew defendant, who was a carter. Saw him on Saturday last in Grahamstown. (AA'itncss here detailed the circumstance of the alleged offence, corroborating the evidence of the previous witness). From bis experience he should say that defendant was wantonly and cruelly ill-treating the horse without reason or cause.—This was the case for the prosecution, and Mr Bullen expressed his obligations to the gentlemen who had come forward to give evidence. The Bench said the case was clearly proved against defendant, who had cruelly beaten the horse without cause, and in an ebullition of temper. The fine of the Court would be 40s or 48 hours’ imprisonment in default of payment. Breach-of the Slaughtering Regulations. —AVilliam File was charged with slaughtering one pig within the limits of the township of Grahamstown on the 27th of October.—Air Miller appeared for defendant, who pleaded not guilty.—The case being proved, defendant was fined £5 and costs. Rescuing a Horse. AA T illiam Adcock was charged with rescuing one horse which had been legally seized for the purpose of being impounded on the 27tli

ultimo, at Grahamstown. —Mr Lnscclles appeared for the plaintiff; Mr Miller for defendant, who pleaded not guilty. At the close of the case for tiic prosecution, Mr. Miller submitted that there was no case, as there was no proof that the Acts under which the case had been brought had been gazetted as in force in the district, and all Provincial Acts were brought into operation by special proclamation in the Government Gazette Neither the Acts nor Gazette wore in evidence.—The Bench, after consultation, reserved judgment on the points raised. — Mr. Miller observed that lie bad not yet gone into bis ease on its merits, which lie was now prepared to do, and proposed to call evidence, but the Bench declined to hear the evidence.—The case was here adjourned until Saturday.