The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-01-14
HOW TO BREAK
A VICIOUS HORSE
The Subject Threshed Out
in Judge Campbelps
Court.
Professor O. r. Gleason Charged
With Cruelty to
Animals.
The Judge, After Listening TO the
Evidence Pro aud Cen, Dis.
misses the Case.

The various methods of breaking in
vicious horses were discussed in all their
phases to an interested audience in Judge
opinions expert and otherwise were freely
given.
The occasion was hearing OF the charge
of cruelty to animals against Professor o.
K. Gleason, alleged to have occurred at
the Peoples Palace on the night of Janu-
arv 5. Gleason was arrested by Secretary
Holbrook of the Society for the Proven.
ton of Cruelty to Animals at the time the
performance was given. Secretary Hol-
brook conducted the prosecution and At
torney T. P. Rlorian appeared for the de-
PENDANT.
The main facts in regard to the way the
big bay horse in question was treated by
the professor and his assistants were not
denied by the defense, although there was
a difference of opinion as TO whether the
horses mouth was bleeding after the per-
Torrance.
The points at issue which the Judge in
sisted should only be taken into consider
alton were whether the horse was treated
with unnecessary cruelty, and whether it
was vicious and dangerous animal. The
Judge SAID he knew something about
breaking IN horses in Oregon, and he could
not be swayed by the opinions of people
who were not experts.
The witnesses for the prosecution were
Officers w. T. Hooper and T. A. Hobrook,
of the society, and Secretary Holbrook,
who all testified that the horse was treated
with unnecessary cruelty, and that it was
not vicious animal to all appearances.
They also testified that it WAS bleeding at
the mouth and was thoroughly exhausted
and batbed in persplration at the end OF
forty minutes driving in which the break
ing-in process was carried on.
William Locke, the owner OF the horse,
was also a witness for the prosecution.
He admitted that the horse was mean and
would shy at anything. He had tried to
break the horse, but it was too expensive,
as it kicked and broke everything it was
harnessed to. 1t was not safe horse for
any inexperien ced person to drive. Any
thing, however slight, that touched the
horse on the hind legs made it kick out
viclously.
DR.. w. f. Egan, DR.. Thrasher, Colonel
Taylor, the ex-Supervlsor, and w. w.
Montague all testified that they were
present on the night in question and saw
no unnecessary cruelty IN the perform
ance. and DR.. Thrasher said he saw no
blood IN the horses mouth. Colonel Tay-
lor and w. w. Montague are mem bers OF
the Society for prevention TO Animals,
and the colonel said he had told Holprook
VIXEN he made the arrest that he had
committed a mistake. The colonel testi.
| fed he had broken all kinds of viciou;
horses on his ranch for the past twenty
five years.
| The defendant also testified in his own
I behalf, denying that there was any unnec
essary cruelty in his method OF breaking
| in horses.
/ The prosecution and defense had othel
witnesses to testify, but the Judge though
he had heard enough evidence. He sale
he always made it his duty TO back up tn,
efforts of the society. but after listening
to all the facts and the testimony of tn,
owner of the horse and such experienced
men as Colonel Taylor and w. w. Monta
| que he did not think any unnecessary
cruelty had been proven and he would
dismiss the case. There was applaus
from some of the audience, which was in
stantly suppressed.