Cruelty to a Gelding, taken from the Cambridge Chronicle / Cambridge Weekly News / Independent Press, 28th December 1894

At Cambridge borough petty sessions, James Chapman, carrier of Reach was summoned for ill-treating a gelding on Newmarket Road on 1st December. The defendant pleaded not guilty but said he was a little lame when he started. Charles William Rogers, Inspector of the RSPCA said three weeks ago that day he saw the defendant driving a black gelding attached to a carriers cart on Newmarket road, Heavily laden with goods and passengers. The animal was lame on the off fore leg - By Mr Bud: It was an aged horse - By the Chairmen: The disease was of long standing - Continuing the witness said the affected parts were much inflamed and very tender when touched and while standing the horse rested its leg. The muscles were considerably wasted showing the lameness to be of long standing. The animal was incapable of work without suffering great pain. He drew defendant's attention to it and defendant said " I know he goes a little lame " and witness said " He is much too lame to work and not fit to be on the road." Defendant said " I know it ought not be on the road, but I only come once a week." Witness asked him how far he had come and he said from Reach - Mr Parkhouse a qualified veterinary surgeon said the animal was examined by him at the Carries Arms, Cambridge. The animal was very lame. The muscles of the shoulder were much wasted. He considered the animal unfit to work especially on the road. It might do a little ploughing on fen land. He considered it cruelty to have driven the horse from Reach, anyone could see it was lame. Defendant said he was a lover of horses. He had as good a horse as other people. He had driven a carriers cart for 30 years (a horse for 40 years) and had never had a complaint against him. He did what the inspector told him and had not any intention off ill treating his horse. The bench took a lenient view of the case and fined the defendant 2s 6d and veterinary surgeon's fees of 10s 6d. Defendant was allowed a fortnight to pay.