Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 27 November 1903

Gross Cruelty to Pit Ponies

Mixed Penalties

Heavy penalties were inflicted in two cases of cruelty to pit ponies that were brought before the Doncaster Bench of Magistrates on Saturday. Three pony drivers were summoned, one of the defendants getting off very luckily indeed.

Mr. W. M. Gichard, of Rotherham, prosecuted for the Denaby and Cadeby Collieries, Ltd., in each case.

The defendant first charged was Joseph Newey, a pony driver, living at Swinton, and he was charged with cruelly ill-treating a pony on the 30th October.

The defendant did not appear.

Mr. Gichard said on the date in question the under-manager at the Denaby Colliery, Mr. Soar, was near to the defendant’s working place when he heard a noise through a door. On going to see what was the matter he found the defendant kicking the pony about the body and beating it on both sides of the head. Mr. Soar several kicks administered to the animal and told the defendant he should report him.

The defendant only five weeks before brought in a pony to the stables with one of its eyes knocked out, although on that occasion the evidence against him was not sufficient, but at that time he was warned. He (Mr. Gichard) was instructed by the company to ask the Bench to assist them, so far as they could to stop the practice, by punishing the defendants who were brought before them.

It was not only a loss to the company, but meant the infliction of a great deal of pain to the ponies in charge of the defendants. It was a very difficult matter sometimes to find out the guilty parties who behaved in such a cruel manner towards the ponies.

John Soar, the under-manager at the Denaby Colliery, said he had had occasion previously to complain of the defendant’s conduct to ponies in his charge.

John Guest, horsekeeper at the colliery, said on the date in question he gave out the pony “Turtle” to the defendant. When he examined him when he returned the pony’s knees were swollen, and he looked as if he had been badly knocked about. He saw the defendant shortly afterwards, and he asked him what he had been doing to the pony, and he replied that he had lost his temper. The pony was off work three shifts.

It was stated that the defendant earned about 21s. per week. He was fined 30s. and the costs.

George Willoughby, Mexboro’, and Charles Wright, Denaby, pitmen, were summoned for a similar offence committed at the Denaby Colliery on the 9th November.

On the date in question, said Mr. Gichard, a pony named “Pincher” was near to where the defendants were working, having been placed in that part of the mine as it had no work to do. The two defendants interfered with it, and by means of a tail chain tied the pony’s head towards its hind quarters so that it could not get away. They then began to belabour the animal, continuing to do so for a quarter of an hour.

One of the defendants had a whip, and two witnesses whom he would call would give evidence to the effect that they heard blows being struck, and that there were two classes, one much duller than the other. According to that, some heavier implement than a whip must have been used, and this supposition was borne out by the condition of the pony.

Edward Allen and John Barnett, pony drivers, gave evidence to the effect that they were near to where the pony “Pincher” was. They saw the two defendants come from its direction. They heard blows being struck for a quarter of an hour in the direction of the pony and the defendants. There were two distinct kinds of blows, and one was much heavier than the other.

The assistant under-manager also gave evidence.

The Bench considered this a worse case than the other, and fined Willoughby 40s., including costs, and Wright 40s. and 15s. costs.