Daily Kennebec Journal

Supreme Judicial Court, Danforth J., Presiding.

WEDNESDAY, October 27.

State vs. Newell Miner and Evelina G. Ricker for killing a horse, the property of John C. Horn of West Waterville, by cruelly over-driving. The county attorney stopped at eleven A. M., and Mr. Choate opened for the defence. The route driven over was from West Waterville, via North Vassalboro, China and Windsor, to Jefferson, about thirty miles. The time occupied varies according to different witnesses from five to six and a half hours. The defence set up is that the defts. drove moderately and carefully, but that the horse gave out by reason of disease, and died from that cause soon after reaching Jefferson. Brutality to domestic animals is a crime which the public no doubt severely condemns, and will rejoice to see any one guilty of it brought to punishment. But the trial suggests other questions of interest to the public. Why did not the prosecutor sue in a civil action for the loss of his horse? Why is the county put to the expense of a two days' trial in court in a case where no malice or gross recklessness is pretended? What does the owner of the horse gain by this trial, even if a conviction be secured? It was past five o'clock when the arguments of counsel were concluded, and the Judge excused the jury from taking the case to-night.