New-York tribune., 1878-06-20
THE COURTS.
,K1yco HORSES TAILS ALLOWED.

"DOCKlNG" HORSES TAILS ALLOWED'
FHE PROSECUTION OF JAMES FRAZER UNSUCCESSFUL.
The trial of James Frazer for docking
me ta OF Henry Oelrchs's polo pony occupied yest@
s.v The whole time OF the first part OF the Court OF zen
.l Sessions In which Judge GdersleeYe presided Inc
et of the docking" was not denied by the defence.
s-e only question was whether It was useless ana
therefore criminal cruelty.
A Oakley Hall, for the defence, made enarac'eIIsuo
opeping quoting othellos speech to the Neheuan sen
ate Lord Monboddo's theory that man was oelee'Ve III
,bat he had lost his caudal appendage, aud Dafwms
.1,r, ~ the descent of man. He claimed, more Sc
io,slv that this trial was pressed by the malice OF
,room and by Mr. Berghs excessive ZEAL whch III 'ci
derness for the brute would deprive man OF us use u
limit its usefulness The relative usefulness OF 'e ~
NAL TO man was an essential elemonI III
what was cruelty. Indeed men submi''eu
oftento severe operations TO regain or increase 'hef
own powers. ,-. -, no., ,,irao+,a Tho
sotondont 70 dock Mr. Oerichs's pony which was IN
d for use n the game pOlo and the ohlect OF the
,ion was to give the rider the free use OF the malet
~ tbs game He explained at some length tue game OF
George W. Bishop veteran horsedealer. described
the operation Of docking horse wmeh IoIl9cy %ts az
Spned 10 90 per cent Of the horses, ana extended 70
eleven inches Of tBe tall but now was geneEay e
Inomentary, and not very acute: ~, 49,, ,,,,, c,,,o,
James H. Cattanach, graduate OF the Dublin ColIege
Of Veterinary Surgeons, thought that there was very
little pain in the operation when skhuy PERFORMED,
and Tor bOluB PURPOSES IL AANAOaoON VIZ ''A'N VI Wv
horse. $1,000, 49,, ~ I'm.
II was concluded that the staircase was too steep
James A. Going, graduate OF the Edlnburg1 koyal
Victoria College testified that he did not regard docking
rs cruel He had heard the theory that docking the tan
strengthened other parts Of the ANIMAL by throwing by
aDastOnosis more blood into them There were dlsa-
greements among professional men.
GT Hai''Yes yes thore wouldn't be lawyers but for
The witness thought the pain Of the operation slight
and "mOmentuOus."
dealer i'm horses for thrtynne years testified that he
had known horses die from pricking," but never
known one seriously injured by " docking" witness
10 the docking testified that though the pony was bound
20 as not TO kick, IL not tightly bound, aud only
WINGED once when the last stitch was put In.
Mr. Hail. alludng TO the beginning and ending OF the
operation asked, We're yOu at the preface or the cpl
locue or there throughout" Z" The witness looked puZ
zIed Mr. Hall" At the beginning or at the end y The
witness Well. sir, was near the tail"
Frazer was placed the stand aud gave his account
of the matter admitting the act but denying the cru
city. .
Considerable amusement was caused by Mr. Hal
here calling Henry Bergh as witness Mr.. Bergh
looked astOnished and asked BE - and only on the
third call took the stand II turned out however that
Mr. Hall only desired TO show that he had appeared as
volunteer dstrct-attOney before the Grand jury in
order make legal objection, and the question being
ruled out, Mr. Bergh not further examined.
Mr.. Hall declined to sum up. Mr. Herring addressed
the jury at length, and Judge Gdersleeye explained
the law
found Frazer nulltV