Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-12-06
YlhTINE'S MILD RIDE.
HE WAS ON A MIDNIGHT SEARCH FOE
OLD MILK CANS.
But Changed His Mind and Went to a
Country Ball-He Tells
Crooked Yarn.

The trial of John Vantine on a charge
of torturing and injuring horse belonging
to Noteworthy & King, was concluded in
the Police Court yesterday morning, and
Judge Buckley found the defendant guilty.
When the case was called yesterday the
prosecution placed two additional witnesses
on the stand to testify as to the condition
of the horse when it was found after Van
tine had got through with it.
After the prosecution hsd finished. Van
tine was called upon to make his defense.
and he refused to go on the witness stand.
He said he wanted one Joe Smith as a wit
ness, to testify as to the manner in which
he used the horse. The officers stated that
they had been looking for Smith, but were
unable to find him.
Judge Buckley suggested that Vantine
| accompany the officers and try to find
Smith before the Court adjourned. Officer
Simmons was detailed for tina duty, and in
about fifteen minutes returned with the de.
sired witness, who was made co-defendant
with Vantine, he having accompanied the
latter on that wild midnight ride.
Smith testified that Vantine asked him
to take ride, and he accepted the invita-
ton. They got the buggy and horse about
O'Clock at night, and went down the
lower Stockton road to the Union House,
where they stopped and spent couple of
hours at country ball in progress there.
They got back about o'clock the next
morning and Vantine let the witness out
at Sixth and L streets.
Smith said the horse was not driven
hard, and that neither himself nor Vantine
were drunk, although they had several
drinks and were accompanied by large
sized bottle Of rye.
In answer to questions by City Attorney
Hart he stated that they stopped at a
saloon on the road, and, after ordering
drinks and cigars, jumped into the buggy
and gave the horse a cut with the whip,
leaving the bartender TO collect his money
as best he could.
By the time Smith had finished testify
ing, Vantine had changed his mind, ard
he told the Court that he wished to testify.
Attorney Hart smiled as he thought of the
opportunity he would have to make the
defendant explain himself.
Vartine said, in substance: 81 got Joe
Smith, and we went to the Central Stables
on Thanksgiving night and asked for a
rig. l told the boss l was going down TO
Stacks ranch to buy some old milk cans,
and he gave us the horse and buggy with
out any questions. We started down, and
when l got to Eleventh and Y streets l
changed my mind and decided to go to the
ball at the Union House. We drove out
there, had good time and then came back,
reaching town about o'clock. After
leaving my partner at Sixth and L streets,
| started up towards the stable with the
horse and hitched him at Eighth and ]
streets. wanted to see a friend in the
Clunie building, and when got up there l
fell asleep. That's why the horse was
found there the next morning"
Vantine's answers to questions on cross
examination made every body in the Court
room smile. He couldn't very well ex-
plain why he went down TO buy milk.csns
so late at night, nor could he explain what
profit there would be in hiring horse and
buggy in order to go out and buy 81 worth
of old cans. HIS purpose in visiting a
friend in the Ciunie building was to see
about securing work in the railroad shops.
His visit was made at about o'clock in
the morning.
Judge Buckley found Vantine guilty
de said that although there was no direct
testimony to the effect that the horse had
been misused, yet the condition of the
animal when found was such as would re-
suit from fast driving, and it was cruel
treatment to allow the horse, after being
heated, to stand in the cold night air for
five hours.
Smith was discharged, as it was evident
from the testimony that Nsntine did all
the driving and hired the rig. Sentence
will be pronounced 10 day on Vantine.