Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1870-08-05
The Horse whipping Affair.

An article which appeared two weeks
made tt q case OF alleged cruel whipping OF
a horse 10 death, by resident Of this vi.
entity, has called out the following commu-
ncation in reply. Although our nforma.
ton was direct and positive, and derived
from a source which we deemed then, and
vet deem, reliable and truthful in intention,
we yet were unwilling to give entire Gre
dence to the story, and as our readers will
remember expressed the hope that our in
formant might be mistaken and that the
true facts in the case might place it in an
entirely different light.
We NIKE no comments on the letter be-
low further than to say that we have always
regarded the writer, Mr.. Dean, as man Of
excellent character and unblemished repu-
tAtion.
INDEPENDENCE, July goth, 1870.
EDITOR BuLLErIN:-1 am not fond Of
newspaper controversy, yet an article IN
| your paper OF last week, under the head OF
cruelty, from reliable source without the
| re | apprehend, induces me to make this
statement through your paper to those who
wish to know the truth. In the first place
was the owner of . horse OF rather tricky
disposition, which ran away with my boy
while blowing potatoes with double shovel
which so injured the horse that l was
obliged to keep him in the stable, and az
quiet as possible, for about three weeks,
until the wounds caused by the pillow should
heal. In about four weeks l judged hin
we'll enough to 60 to work. On hitching
him - l found disposition adverse to
work. We bothered along with him for
some time thinking he would get over his
freaks; but no, be was getting worse every
day, until, by sane calculation mot insani-
ty) determined to try and whip it out Of
| him. took him from the reaper and did
the cruel thing Of whipping. Then took
him back to the reaper and he worked for
perhaps half an hour, then refused to go
intoto. then gave him another whipping.
but to no purpose, (ssne aud cool all the
time). concluded by this time to give up
whipping him, and was in the act oflrading
him ross . small creek to htching post,
where the water vas about two feet deep.
As he ne, into the water he stumbled and
.ell or threw himself on bis side and CON-
menced kicking and striking and throwing
bis head in such violent manner rs to pull
the halter stall out of my hand, and to pre-
vent my assistance until he was So strangled
as to remain quiet. then jumped into
the water and held bis head up so that he
could get his breath. In q moment he
commenced struggling and striking and
wa. obliged to let his head 60 into the wa
ter again MS before. then gave up all
hopes of saving him, or nearly all, but as
soon a. be was still the second time from
suffoca,ion, l did as before and stripped him
Of his harness. and held his head up out Of
the water for few moments, when be made
signs of desire to get out of that place.
told him to get up; be did so, and without
help. then led him back to the reaper
tied him to the seat for about half an hour
and coming to him sgain ! found him tfem
bling, whereupon l took hlm to the stable
and Is ab ut two or three hours he settled
down in his tracks and died without q
STRUGGLE. Now whether he died from suffo
cation in water, OF from what is called melt
ing with heat, or from bursting some blood
vessel, am unable to say. As to causing
his death by whipping, ! deny the charge
and challenge your reliable parties to prov
the assertion.
G.. S. DEAN.
P.S, If our neieh5ors would try TO keel
their own record more clear it wonA b.
: Just as we'll for the community, ! Judge.