Mexborough and Swinton Times, April 29th, 1932
Strangling A Dog
Gross Cruelty At Denaby
“This is a very gross case of cruelty. You ought to be thoroughly ashamed and the two witnesses who watched you ought to be ashamed of themselves for not stopping you. You will go to prison for two months,” said the Chairman of the Doncaster Magistrates, Mr. G. E. Cooke-Yarborough on Tuesday, when John Turton of Denaby Main, described as a knocker-up, was summoned for causing unnecessary suffering to a dog. The case was brought by the R.S.P.C.A.
John Harvey, unemployed miner, of Wood View, Denaby, said that on March 24th he was in a friend’s garden at the Black Lane allotments, Denaby, when he heard a moaning sound coming from a neighbouring allotment. He investigated and saw defendant trying to strangle a dog. There was a rope round the animal’s neck, one end of the rope being tied to a post while Turton was pulling at the other end. He watched this go on for five or six minutes.
The Chairman: Were you watching all that time? – Yes.
Why did you not stop Turton? – It was not in my place. I am not allowed to go on other people’s allotments without permission.
Harvey went on to say that Turton beat the dog on the head with a stick and also struck it several blows with a hammer. The latter was produced in court. Defendant then strung up the dog to a post, by a rope round its neck, although it appeared alive. After this he proceeded to dig a grave for the animal.
Norman Stocks, Warmsworth Street, Denaby Main, who was with Harvey, gave similar evidence.
Turton disagreed with the latter part of the witnesses’ evidence, saying the dog was tied by the neck to a post, not strung up, while he dug the grave. He then struck the rope to break it because he had no knife. He burned the animal the following day.
Inspector P. Quigley, of the R.S.P.C.A. and the owner of the dog gave Turton 1s to have the animal destroyed, expecting it to be done properly.