Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 17 February 1893
Cruelty to a Horse
George Wagstaffe, carter, Conisborough, was summoned for cruelty to a horse at Mexborough on February 6.
Police Inspector Barrett said that on the day in question at 12:15 AM in Bank Street, Mexborough, he saw defendant with two horses and two carts.
The first thought, a brown one, was working very uneasily, and an sacking about the answers as though to protect it. He stopped the arts and remove the saddle, and found an old, bad suppurating wound 3 ½ inches long, and 3 inches broad.
The sacking was firmly embedded in the wound. On removing the collar he saw a raw wound in the neck. On the withers there was a sore 1 ½ inches long and an inch broad, more recent than the others. There were other wounds about, one being on the breast. He ordered defendant to take of the harness, and take the horse home. The horse was in a very low condition.
Mr W.W.Norwood, veterinary surgeon, Conisborough, examine the horse, and corroborated the evidence of the inspector.
Defendant said he bought the horse at a fair. The horse had a lot of hair upon it, and he had not noticed the sores.
The Bench said that the last time defendant came before him they were inclined to send him to prison without the option of a fine, and they had considered whether they should do it in that case. As, however, it was not such a bad case of the last they had determined to give him another chance. He would be would be fined £5 including costs. He had better take care not to appear that court again for a like offence.