The Portland daily press., 1874-04-02


The annual meeting of the Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animalsswas held in
the Aldermen's Room, City Building, last
evening.
The President, Judge Kingsbury called the
meeting to order.
The Secretary read tn report OF the last
meeting, after which the Agent of the Society,
Mr. A. H. Libby submitted his report for the
eleven months ending April LIST, which is as
follows:
AGENTS REPORT.
Whole number of cases of cruelty to animals
investigated 1879; of which 16 were cases of
cruel whipping, "a of working feeble and dsa-
bled horses. q of working horses with harness
gals, of starving horses, z of working horses
wi en- smooth shod, 2 of kicking horses in the
mouth, 3 Of working horses with tight check
reins, 20 of overlooking horses, IS of eyerwork-
ing horses, of working sick horses, 3 cases of
horses left exposed in the streets and stabbed, 1
case OF building fire under a horse, cases of
crulty to dogs. During the year seven cases of
prosecution have been begun against parties for
cruelty to animals, in four of which convictions
are reported, two were discharged and one is
pending.
have caused three old horses to be killed.
During the past year twenty horses left in the
streets to suffer with cold have been blanketed.
The number OF cases of prosecution is small be-
causeI have made it my purpose, except in
cases where in my Judgment the object could
not be accomplished by any other means, and
In the greater part of the cases investigated
have found that as much or more good has been
accomplished as would have resulted from
prosecution. Of the cases investigated 81 were
out OF the city. Parties living ten miles out of
the city have come to ME to take measures to
stop cruelty to animals in their vicinity. L have
investigated as soon as possible every case
brought to my attention.
The most cruel of whinpiOp a hOrSl
winch came to my uotice occurred in Raymond
last August, where a man whipped sick horse
with whalebone whip SO that three days af-
ter found the skin hanging in strips from his
sides. The horse, was informed cost short
time before $780, but after this brutal treat
ment was not worth So; and am informed
that he has never recovered but is entirely
broken down and nearly worthless.
l also found an old crippled horse tied in pas
ture in Scarb0ro' nearly starved to death, and
another dead by the roadside, where was in
formed he had fallen, and, after laying some
time, was killed by neighbor and thus put
out of his misery L caused the owner to kill
the other horse and he gave me assurance that
If l would not prosecute him he wonld take
better care of his stock in the future.
During the summer L found horses at work in
the city with harness sores nearly as large as
a mans hand.
have seen, and am satisfied that ali the cases
L have investigated are but small part of
what occurs in this county every year. 1t
would require all of my time to look after and
prosecute all violations of the law for the pro-
lection of animals
The people should be educated as to the mat
ter of treating dumb animals, and public senti-
ment should be up TO the point that when
man, with malice beats or tortures dumb ami
NAL, he would be punished as promptly as the
man who commits an assault on his fellow
mantle difference, if any. should be in favor
OF the animal. because the latter cannot speak
and is helpless to defend.
Great responsibility rests with the Portland
Soclety-if it will it can accomplish more good
than other humane society within my knowl-
edge. But in order to accomplish its mission
1t must be working society," 1t will not do to
leave all the work to one, two or three of its
members. All should work unitedly to increase
its members, put money into its treasury and
give information that would assist in procuring
evidence to convict parties guilty of cruelty
Within the past year the society has become
better known and its influence has been felt
throughout the county, where before it was un-
known. and it remains with you, Mr.. President
and members of the Society, whether it shall
go forward in its work.
Whether il shall go backward or exist only in
name, with the experience of the past year the
work can be carried on more successfully and
mach more can be accomplished the coming
year. When it is considered that in Name
large amount of money is invested in horses
and that every year hundreds are ruined by
abuse and bad treatment it seems that it must
be evident to every business manif he will give
it a moments thought it is of the utmost impor
lance that the society should exist and receive
cordial support; that there should be, at Least
one man employed in the State to devote his
whole time to the enforcement of the law and
prevent the abuse of one of the noblest and
most useful of animals, thus saving large
amount OF valuable property and doing away
with those acts of cruelty and torture which
are disgrace to acivilized. and Christian COM
munity.
The report was accepted.
The President spoke of the good results of
the society and favored the engagement of Mr.
Libby the whole of the time, also the impor-
lance of printing and distributing the agents
report.
Rufus e. Wood, ESQ.,, volunteered to pay for
the publishing of the report.
The following Board of Directors was elect
ed fer the ensuing year, and was empowered
to elect the subordinate officers of the society:
Benjamin Kingsbury, Jr., Rufus E. Weed,
Mrs. J. B. Carroll, Mrs. Geo. T. Davis, Nathan
Cleaves, I. G. Hersey, Stanley I. Pullen, Mrs.
Bion Bradbury, Timothy B Tolford, Edmund
Dana, Thos. G. Loring, Mrs.J. w. Waterhouse,
Chas. Sager, Mrs. James E. Fernald, M. G.
Palmer, Miss Mary J. E. Clapp, Mrs. E. T.
Eden, VIM. G. Davis, Mrs. Levi Morrill, of
Westbrook, DR., john Buzzell, Miss Annie
Davis.
A resolution was passed thanking Mr..
Wood for his very generous offer.
The Directors were instructed to report some
method of raising funds to carry on the work.
The Secretary was instructed to call meet
ing of the Directors on Wednesday afternoon
ot four o,o OF bo A 20