Daily Gazette for Middlesbrough – Tuesday 16 December 1884
Pulling a Pony’s Tongue Out
Walter Hartley and George Henry Morris, two youths living at Denaby, were charged at Rotherham on Monday with cruelty to a pony on December 7th.
Mr. Hickmott (for Mr. Rhodes) said he was instructed to appear on behalf of the Denaby Main Colliery Company to prosecute, and that this was about the worst case of cruelty he had ever heard.
A week last Sunday night the prisoners were in the Denaby Pit, and the pony was being driven by a lad named Willett. According to the prisoners’ statements, the pony was somewhat stupid. Hartley obtained a strap, and he opened the pony’s mouth, took its tongue out, fastened the strap tight to the tongue, and commenced to pull it, whilst Morris went behind the animal.
Afterwards Hartley went behind, and Morris took hold of the strap, and whilst he was pulling the greater part of the pony’s tongue came out. The piece was something like four inches in length, and the prisoners buried it on the roadway.
The cruelty was at once discovered, but the authorities were unable to discover who were the perpetrators of it until Thursday. In consequence of certain facts which came to light the prisoners were summoned. They had intended to abscond, and therefore a warrant was applied for, and they were apprehended on Saturday. He applied for a remand.
The pony had since been killed. Hartley pleaded not guilty, and Morris guilty. The Bench refused to grant bail, and remanded the prisoners in custody for a week.
Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Tuesday 16 December 1884
Also in numerous newspapers
Revolting Cruelty to a Horse
Yesterday, at the West Riding Police Court, Walter Hartley and George Henry Morris, youths about 18 years of age, living at Denaby, were charged with cruelly using a horse at that place on the 7th inst.
Mr. H. H. Hickmott prosecuted by instructions from the Denaby Main Colliery Company, at whose pit the prisoners are employed.
Another youth named Willott passed the prisoners in the pit, he being in charge of a pony at the time. The animal appeared to be stupid, and Hartley fastened a strap round its tongue. With this he pulled at the animal for some time, and eventually gave place to Morris, and whilst he was pulling at the animal’s tongue the greater part of it came out, and the prisoners buried it in the roadway.
The prisoners were remanded.