Kettering Petty Sessions,
Nov. 6 1843
Leonard Yeomans,
of Desborough, was charged by
Mr. Iliffe, of the
same place, with wilfully and wantonly stabbing a mare with a fork. In
this case the defendant was assisting with others in thrashing for the
complainant, with a machine worked by the mare in question. The injury
done to the mare was proved by Mr. G. Hawthorn, veterinary surgeon of
Kettering. He described the wound as being on the inside of her thigh,
and penetrating to a depth of six inches, and his charge for attendance
would not be less than £20.
John Tompkins,
who was at work on the spot, drew the fork out of the mare, and knew it
to be the one with which the defendant had been working, but did not see
it put into her. When the accident happened she shied as she passed by
him. Yeomans admitted that he did the injury but pleaded that it was
done accidentally, in support of which plea he stated that he was
removing some straw from a narrow place, where the mare in her circuit
had to pass him, and that she threw herself against the fork, the handle
of which met the wall on the opposite side, and thus it was driven into
her. This statement, however, was contradicted by the evidence of John
Gee, who, though not present at the instant of the occurrence, had been
there a short time previously, and had both seen the defendant prick the
mare as she passed him, and had cautioned him not to do so. He was
ordered to pay £1. 15s., including damages, costs, and a trifling
penalty. The space of six weeks was allowed him in which to pay the sum.
Northampton Mercury,
Saturday 11 November 1843