POLICE COURT NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9030, 22 February 1908, Page 7

POLICE COURT NEWS.

ijsterday, a sitting of the Police 'Court was held at Masterton, before Mr W. P. James, S.M

CRUELTY TO A DOG

Charles 0. B. Lamb, a young 'man, a drover, by occupation, pleaded not guilty to a charge of having-ill-treated his dog at Masterton on Wednesday evening. , Mr Mr B. J. Dolan appeared ior •accused. Sergeant Miller and Constable Townsend gave evidence to the effect that accused kicked his dog severely several times, and dragged it along roughly by a strap round its neck. The Sergeant siid he had seen trovers chastise their dogs, but not in th% manner accused had done., as -hel/as unnecessarily cruel. Accused gave evidence on his own behalf, and said that he was chief Show driver for Dalgety and Co. The dog had attacked a small terrier belonging to a lady, and had run away when witness called it off. He punished the animal for its disobedience. '"The dog was not injured by its punishment, but had worked again shortly afterwards. J. B. Moody, called for the defence, said it was not at all uncommon to chastise a dog in the manner .accused had done. Dogs had to be punished frequently, and if there was not a stick or other object handy with which to punish the animal with the side of a boot might be used by any drover in charge of dogs. Accused was not a man given ta cruel piacHjjkWorship said he did not think defendant intended to be cruel. He may, perhaps, have carried the punishment too far, but there was no doubt dogs had to be punished occasionally. The accused would probably be sufficiently punished by having to answer the present charge, •and it would serve as a lesson to him and to others not to be unduly severe upon dumb animals. The case would be dismissed.

OBSCENE LANGUAGE. The same accused was charged with using obscene language in a public place. He pleaded not guilty, Mr Dolan again defending. Constable Doyle stated in evidei ce that accused was mounting his horse in Renall Street when three ladies drove by in a buggy. Witness could no»bav whether the buggy struck th§ horse. Accused made use of the language complained of. He was in charge of a mob of shier* and on witness remonstrating with him he replied that he did not know ladies were about or he would not have used the language he did. Cross-examined by Mr Dolan witness safd the ladies must have heard the language, as they turned round. Accused, in giving evidence, said the rams he was driving were a very valuable lot and he was naturally annoyed at the careless manner in which the parties in the buggy were driving. They had plenty of fairway but yet drove into the rams and lamed one. Witness denied using some of the worst expressions alleged. The Magistrate said he did not know whether he was justified in not sending accused to gaol. The language made use of was of a most disgusting character, and it was necessary that the public streets should not be made 'the locality for such filthy expresisons. Accused would he fined £lO and costs 19s.

DRUNKENNESS

A first offending inebriate, _ who did not appear, was fined ss, in default 24 hours' imprisonment. BREACH OF BY-LAWS.

C. Carr admitted riding his bicycle on the footpath in Queen Street, and was fined ss, with "s costs. BREACH OF PROHIBITION ORDER.

Michael McGrath was charged with being found with liqupr in his possession during the currency of a prohibition order. Mr C. A. Pownall defended, and said tnere were no extenuating circumstances, except that defendant had suffered badly from dysentry, and brandy had been supplied him .medicinally. This had started him on '•ildrinking bout. His Worship said he recognised it was little usu fining in cases of the . sort, as defendant had two previous fines recorded against him for similar cffemes. However, it was the only punishment provided, and defendant would be dned £2, with 9s costs. BREACH OF LICENSING ACT. James McKee was charged with being found on licensed premises during prohibited hours. He was repieser.ted bv Mr R. K. Jackson. A fine of 10s, with 7s costs was lm- •"" posed. STRAYING BULL. A. C. R. S. MacDonnell admitted that a bull belonging to him had ..-strayed in Renall Street. A fine of 20, with 7s costs was imposed.