The Sun.
London, England, 1871-01-07 00:00:00

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.—This DAY.

CURTAILING A TAlL.—William Anslow, a tailor, was
charged, at the Westminster Police-court, with wilfully
damaging the coat ;of an old man named John Maloney,
a " translator," by cutting off one of the tails. Pro-
secutor, who is about 70 years of age, and goes about
selling old boots and shoes botched up, said the defendant
was " werry " much addicted to practical joking, and had
played a rare game with him ; he went into a beer shop
in Manor-street, to sell some boots, and the defendant
was there with two other men, one of whom stood on his
left, and the other the right, and defendant behind. He
felt a slight touch at his back, and thought they were
chalking his back, as there was a general titter, but when
he got outside the shop the people began laughing, and
some one said " Governor, yours is a queer fashion for
coats " and upon his looking he found he was minus a tail
to his dress coat. Mr. Arnold : What is that piece of
cloth you hold in your hand ; is that the tail you lost ?
Complainant : You see I was in a " werry " awkward
predicament, and thought the best thing I could do was
to manipulate th e other tail, so I cut it off to make
the coat right, and I've brought it with me. I eould'nt
find the other tail. Here the witness turned round and
caused great laughter ; the two tails had been cut off just
below the buttons, and a very ludicious fashion in the way
of coats became apparent. Defendant said he had not
cut the tail off the coat, and what he and his friends were
laughing at was the extraordinary figure the complainant
cut. Two apparently respectable people were called, who
swore that when complainant entered the beer-shop he
had only one tail to his coat, and neither defendant nor
anybody else had cut the coat. The summons was dis-
missed, and complainant left the Court much chagrined.
INFLICTION OF THE FULL FINES FOR CRUELTY.—Robt.
Martin, a dairyman, of 10, Bird-street, Kennington-lane,
was brought before Mr. Knox, at the Marlborough-street
Police-court, summoned by the Royal Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, for cruelty to a horse.
Police-constable James Thwaites, 146 C, said on the 31st
December he saw the defendant's horse fall two or three
times through lameness and unfitness for work. George
Young, officer of the society, said ithe defendant told him
that morning that the horse had been destroyed, and that
he only took it out because his other one was not well.
Mr. Arthur Cherry, the veterinary surgeon, said he had
seen the horse, which, though a well-bred animal, was in
a miserable condition. It was excessively lame, the fore-
legs were mueh bent ; it was aged, and totally unfit for
work. Mr. Knox asked the defendant what business he
had to work the horse in such a state. The defendant said
he used it to save his other one. Mr. Cherry said
the horse's fetlocks were cut. The defendant supposed
the frost cut the horse's foot. Mr. Knox, after remarking
that it was a shocking thing to work a horse in such a
state, fined the defendant £4 7s. 6d., and 12s. 6d. costs.

(CENTRAL PRESS TELEGRAMS.)
ARMY REFORM.

A crowded meeting to discuss the best means of pro-
moting army reform was held in Liverpool last night. Mr.
Clint presided. Mr. Trevelyan and several other mem-
bers of Parliament were present. Resolutions were passed
to the effect that the cost of the military system is dis-
proportionate to results ; that under that system a large
amount of immorality and disease exists in the army, and
that greater efficiency might be secured by reorganisation.
The'meeting decided to present a memorial to the Prime
Minister on the subject, and tendered thanks to Mr.
Trevelyan for bringing the question of army reform before
the nation.