Sheffield Evening Telegraph – Monday 10 March 1890
Cruelty to Ponies at Denaby.
To-day the Rotherham West Riding Police Court Patrick Manion, pony driver, of Denaby, was summoned for having ilitreated pony the Denaby Main Colliery on the 25th February.
Defendant pleaded guilty.
Mr. Hickmott, who prosecuted, said the defendant had to take two corves from a bank to the plane. The road was steep, and four lockers had to be put in to prevent the corves running too fast. The pony had just started the corves when the defendant struck the animal a severe blow with iron locker. A lump was raised the animal’s back the size of a walnut. When spoken to by Albert Barrett he used threatening language.
Barrett gave evidence support the statement. The Pony was named “Traveller.”
John Guest, the horse keeper, described injuries which the pony had received.
The Chairman said in cases of cruelty that sort they should always deal severely with the offenders. Defendant would be fined 20s. and costs.
John Dunnill, 17. was summoned for a similar offence.
Mr. Hickmott prosecuted.
He said the pony which was placed the defendant’s charge was one answering the “Spot.” On the 26th February defendant was going with the pony to the jenny top order that he might take some corves into a working place. The pony walked first, the defendant following. The pony passed the corves, and the defendant ran after the animal, picked np heavy iron rail and struck across the head, and also two or three times the back.
A “jennier,” named William Terrigo, had seen the defendant previously ill-treat the pony, and the 26th watched him. The blows were given before he (Terrigo) got up, but the effect was cause the animal to jump over some stop blocks, and to get into a refuge hole. The poor brute was afraid, and did its best to get away. When spoken to by Terrigo defendant used a foul expression. The horse keeper found bruise the pony’s chine and bead. The blow on the head entirely closed up one eye, and a man had to remain up the whole night bathing it.
Terrigo in his evidence said had seen the defendant hit the with iron locker on the previous day. The horsekeeper, Guest said in addition to the injury to the chine and the closing up the eye, one of the pony’s head was swollen. Mr. Hickmott said there had been a great deal of cruelty to horses in the Denaby pit, but the company, being determined to stop it, brought a number of cases before the court. With the later cases the Bench dealt severely, sending some of the offenders to prison for a month. The prosecutions had the effect of stopping the practice for a time, but now it had recommenced, and was as bad as ever. The company were determined to do what they could to prevent the cruelty, and in that case they instructed him (Mr. Hickmott) to press the case.—Defendant was sent to gaol for a month with hard labour, without the option of a fine.