ARMY APPOINTMENTS. 
127 
body of tbe horse, and the fire burnt fiercely, whilst the defendant stood 
by, coolly looking on. The unfortunate animal was incapable of moving, 
from the heavy weight which was behind it, and the result was that the 
horse was burnt in a horrible manner about the most tender parts of the 
body. The skin of the belly cracked and blistered up, and the thighs 
became a mass of running wounds. The defendant afterwards com¬ 
pelled the horse, assisted by a second one, to go through the day’s work, 
and on its return home at night it was placed in the stable and there left 
uncared for until the following morning, when the defendant’s wife gave 
the wretched animal to a labouring man, with a sum of money, to get 
rid of it. Subsequently the horse was released from its sufferings by 
being slaughtered in a knacker’s yard in Canterbury. The defendant 
did not appear personally, but was represented by his mother, who pro¬ 
duced a medical certificate to show that the defendant was lying ill at 
home, and unable to attend, but he was anxious that the case should be 
heard and settled that day. Stephen Holmes, the man who was asked 
by the defendant’s wife to kill the horse, confirmed the preceding state¬ 
ment. He took the horse to the knacker’s yard, and received a shilling 
from defendant’s wife for his trouble. William Fry, a blacksmith, who 
examined the horse, deposed to the frightful injuries the animal had 
received. Mr. Love called upon the bench to use the power invested in 
them by the Act of Parliament, and commit the defendant, who was a 
man of substance, to prison, without giving him the option of a pecuniary 
penalty. The magistrates having consulted together, said that, but for 
the proof given that the defendant was lying now seriously ill, they 
would have committed him to prison without a fine, for a more cruel 
case it was not possible to conceive. But, taking into consideration the 
state of his health, they would inflict the full penalty with costs, 
amounting to £6 13^. %d.^ or in default to be committed to prison, with 
hard labour, for six weeks. The fine was at once paid. 
ARMY APPOINTMENTS. 
War Office, Pall Mall, Jan, 1863. 
Royal Regiment op Horse Guards. —Vet.-Surg 
Matthew John Harpley to be Vet.-Surg. of the First Class. 
4th Dragoon Guards.— Vet.-Surg. Luke Byrne to be 
Vet.-Surg. of the First Class. 
11th Hussars. —Vet.-Surg. John Ferris, from the 17th 
Lancers, to be Vet.-Surg., vice Paul Anthony, dismissed the 
service by sentence of a general court-martial. 
17th Lancers. —Vet.-Surg. James Lambert, from the 
Royal Artillery, to be Vet.-Surg., vice John Ferris, appointed 
to the 11th Hussars. 
