Mexborough & Swinton Times – Saturday 01 March 1913
A Filler’s Cruelty
Kicking a Pit Pony
A charge of cruelty to a pony in the Denaby pit was preferred against Thomas Haines, a filler, of Conisboro’.
The offence complained of took place on February 7th. The defendant was discovered kicking the pony on the stomach and on the legs. He made no reply when spoken to, although later on he denied committing the offence.
It also tried to frighten a driver who had seen him, to say otherwise. Edwin Sheldon, a deputy in the Denaby mine, spoke to hearing the sounds of kicking. He went up to the defendant, whom he saw against the pony, and said “What are you kicking the horse for?”
He replied “He trod on my toe.” Witness told him that he should not do that. The horse was afterwards found to have a mark on its leg, but the defendant alleged that it was “grease.”
Reuben Brownlow, a driver, said the pony was all right when he left it. Later on he heard a thumping noise coming from the direction of where he left the pony. The last witness named by him into the stall and he followed.
Harry Watson Smith, manager of the mine, had had some conversation with the defendant, who denied that he had committed the offence.
He was ordered to pay 40s. inclusive, the Chairman adding: “Next time you will go to prison without the option of a fine.”