Plea for mercy to animals / by James Macauley.

  • James Macaulay
Date:
[1875]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Plea for mercy to animals / by James Macauley. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    the animals as aforesaid, when they were far advanced in calf. “ Mr. Percival Walsh appeared to prosecute on behalf of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and said the following were the facts: The ten cows were sent by the defendant from Kilmarnock to Oxford, a distance of about 344 miles. They were started, according to the direction of the defendant, at 4 p.m. on the afternoon of Monday, the 30th of September, and did not arrive until about a quarter after seven on the following Wednesday morning. Even if these were steer animals, it would have been a most cruel thing for them to have been kept for thirty-eight hours without food and water. Between four and five o’clock on the morning of Wednesday, the 2nd of October, it was discovered by the brakesman of the train, at Bicester, that some of the animals were lying down in the truck. He drew the attention of the inspector to the fact, and endeavours were made to take them out. Eight of them suffered intensely, but recovered. The other two died. It was a case of most monstrous cruelty, and he should ask the reporters to give the details of the case as fully as they could, with the view of the attention of the Privy Council being directed to the case. He then called witnesses, who proved the facts as stated above, when the magistrates retired, and after being absent about a quarter of an hour, returned into Court. The mayor said that the decision of the Court was, that a fine of £5 he inflicted for the first offence, and £5 for the second, with costs. The costs altogether amounted to £14 8s. fid. Total, £24 8s. fid.” The cattle drovers used to be a very rough and cruel set, as a class, but of late years there has been great improvement, many of them being remarkably kind as well as steady and respect- able men. In the metropolitan district they require to have a
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