SETTING FIRE TO A HORSE.

Inangahua Times, Volume VII, Issue 1119, 21 August 1882, Page 2

SETTING FIRE TO A HORSE.

At the Runcorn Pretty Sessions recently, William Cunningham, ostler to Mr Heywood, licensed victualler, Top Locks, was charged with torturing a horse by setting fire to it Mr. Osmond Hamper, of Altringham, appeared on behalf of the for the Prevention of A impels, find in opening the case remarked that it was about as gross an instance of cruelty as had ever come muler' his notice. The owner v.-as a boatman in the employ

of Messrs. Prico and Son, of Round Oak, Staffordshire. The auiin.il en arriving at Runcorn, was put into Mr. Hey ward's stable. The mare was suffering from mange, and the defendant told the driver that if he would apply paraffin oil to its back it would cure it. The driver determined to J, try the experiment, and procured *&■ supply of paraffin oil, with which he carefully rubbed the back of the mare Y . in the presence of several witnesses, and defendant Cunningham poured some of the oil upon the ground and " tried to light it with a match, but did * 'not succeed. The driver told him 1 paraffin would ignite immediately. Defendant then lighted another match, , and put it to the horse's tail. The hair caught fire, and the back of tho , ' animal was instantly one mass of flames. AH that defendant said was that he wondered the mare hod not) been more damaged, as there was BOtne straw in the stable roof. Mr. Htfrper examined the animal on tho following day, and found that on the near sid.<^ from /the bock uptbth^iiip; there Veterinary surgeon" mwl Wn called in,- and the mare was in a dreadful state. He ordered it to be destroyed. Cunningham, in refence, said he did not recommend the boatman to apply tho oil from any desire to act oruolly to the mare, but he had been told that such a proceeding would "burn tho disease out." The Bench said the case,was one of the worst which luid evei*"^ come under their notice, and defendant *- : would be cqmmitted to gaol for two months with hard labour.