Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 07 January 1881

Cruelty to a Mare at Mexborough

Louisa Roper, carter, of Mexboro’, was charged with cruelly ill-treating a horse by allowing it to be worked whilst suffering from wounds, and John Speight, labourer, of the same place, was charged with working the animal.

P.c. Cade deposed that on Wednesday, the 22nd ult., about 9 a.m., he met the male defendant on Swinton-road, Mexboro’, with a mare and a cart laden with coals. When on the rise of the hill, the mare stopped and would not proceed any further. Thinking that there was something the matter with the animal he examined it and found two wounds on its shoulders of large size.

He asked the defendant how it was he was working the mare. He replied that he had not worked it before that day. But he saw the same animal on the previous day being worked, and at his request the mare was taken out of the cart which it was drawing.

The wounds were old ones and a quantity of matter and blood was oozing.

Inspector Beevers corroborated.

Mrs. Roper said she had only had the mare a few days. She thought it was in proper condition, but being a frisky animal, she was frightened to go and see it, which she usually did.

Mrs. Roper was fined 10s. and 13s. costs, and Speight had to pay 5s. and 13s. costs.