Cruelty to a Pit Pony at Denaby

Fred Case, aged 17 years of Denaby, was summoned for unlawfully and cruelly ill treating a horse in Denaby Pit, on 4 March.

Defendant denied the offence.

Mr Hickmott prosecuted and referred to the cruelty which took place in the Denaby pit from time to time.

On the last occasion when he appeared in case of cruelty from the same pit, there were no less than five different charges. Defendant in this case was old enough to know better than behaving the way he had done, and the company felt bound to bring the case before the court.

The facts were of the most horrible description, and he (Mr Hickmott) should ask for an example to be made of the defendant.

About half past 8 o’clock in the evening in question, defendant was driving a pony named “Sharper”, in the East plane and on the road there was a corf which did not enable the pony to pass. Defendant should have waited until that corf had been removed, but he commenced to kick the pony on the hind legs. He dealt the animal seven or eight blows, and picked up what was called a “double Dick,” which was a piece of wood about 6 inches thick, and about a yard and ½ in length, and struck the pony on the back several times.

Before the pony moved a lump as big as a large hen’s egg was raised on its back. About an hour later the pony was standing eating corn, and because the animal did not move as quicker the defendant would have liked he again commenced to ill-treat it. He kicked it five or six times, and the pony was in such pain that it jumped against a door and commenced to kick.

When the animal was given into defendant’s charge it was in a sound condition, when returned, besides a lump on the back, the hind legs were swollen and severely injured.

The pony had not worked since, and it would be a fortnight before it would be able to do its work. It wounds had since gathered and burst. The company thought the case was one of gross and horrible cruelty.

Arthur John Gill, pony driver, John Guest horse keeper and other witnesses were called.

The Bench imposed a fine of 40 shillings, including costs, or one months in default.