Gilpin observer., 1901-04-18
CRUEL TO ANIMALS.
MANKIND IN MEAN AND DE-
SPICABLE LIGHT.
Women ~ Well as Mon Figure in the
Disgraceful Record-Man Strikes Horse
with Pickax-Womnn Throws Dog
from High Window.

l
In its annual report the Society for
the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
gives list of more important cases
OF cruelty with which it has dealt in
the course of the year, says the New
York Press. 1t is anything but
pleasant record and shows mankind in
about as mean and despicable light as
can be imagined. Horses seem to be
the animals most frequently abused,
and in many cases 1t seems to be sim
ply fiendish love of cruelty for cruel
ty's sake which incites the evil-doer.
Some of the cases mentioned the last
report are as follows: An Italian was
arrested for carrying four young goats
in bag, their legs tied together and
the animals packed in like bundles of
wood When brought before Judge
Fleming the prisoner said that it was
the custom in Italy to carry young
goats in that manner, and that he had
no idea that it was against the law
here. The judge told him that "ignor-
ance of the law is an excuse to no
man." and that in this country the
law prohibited cruelty to animals. 1t
cost the Italian $40 to learn the differ
ence between sunny Italy and humane
America. A man in New Rochelle
wanted to move his horse from one
side Of the stable to the other, so he
grabbed the animal by the tongue and
pulled him across, thereby much in
IN Vstynrr fIN II
truck driver in Brooklyn drove
wheel Of his truck over the hind leg
of horse standing near the sidewalk,
injuring the animals leg severely. He
had plenty of room to drive in and
need not have done the cruel act. He
had the choice of thirty days in Jail or
fine of $50. A man up in Oneonta
left his horse out in the roadway with
out food or water for nearly twenty
four hours in inclement weather. He
was let off with fine of $i3., A par
ticularly cruel case was that of
man who struck his horse with a pick
ak. He was putting the harness on the
horse when the animal became res
tive. This SO angered the owner that
he went into the yard, got pickax.
came back to the barn and drove it
into the horse several times. He in
fiicted wounds two inches long and
five inches deep. After thus cruelty
wounding the animal he paid no furth-
er attention to it. but the neighbors re-
ported the case to the society and the
man was arrested. He was sentenced
to pay fine of $3.50 or be imprisoned
three months in the penitentiary.
Another case was that of the driver
Of an ice wagon. He drove fine pair
| of horses, and one of them. a magni-
flcent gray, angered the driver in some
way. The driver in a fit of anger
seized an 'ice shaver" four-pronged
implement of steel, measuring four
inches across and with a handle three
feet long. With all his force he drove
the ice shaver into the horses flank,
making wound about four inches
deep and the width of the implement.
A veterinary surgeon put more than
oozen stitches in the wound, and the
horse was unfit for work for several
weeks. The man got off with a fne of
500. Women as well as men figure in
the disgraceful record. One woman
picked up a dog and threw 1t through
third-story window to the ground,
breaking its back. She was fined $25,
with an alternative of ten days impris-
onment. She could give no excuse for
her inhuman action. A beautiful St.
Bernard dog belonging to the Suburb
an Driving club was found dead In its
kennel. Marks on its body showed
that 1t had been stabbed to death. A
trail Of blood was traced from the ken
mel to shanty about mile distant,
where a man lived alone Evidences
of struggle and of bloodstains leading
to the entrance of the shanty were also
found. In the shanty there was found
large jackknife, with an edge on it
like razor. 1t was covered with
dried blood. 1t was proved that on re-
turning from his work the man who
lived in the shanty had found the dog
roaming about, and had caught him
and stabbed him with repeated thrusts
OF the knife. Then he let the animal
go. The poor dog had strength enough
to reach the side of his kennel. where
he fell down dead. The man got six
months in the penitentiary.