The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-10-29 00:00:00

in the field, and I said if they had some out off the tsile
they would not get out. Asked Mr. Nash if I should
cat some off their tails, or not. Nash said it would do
theni good to take • little off. They did not bleed much.
Southall helped me to dress them. Cautioned them not
to give them the heated swedes that welt in the loose
box. Told them to take particular care of flie sheep, and
to keep them penned up at night. Told Southall that.
I told him they must be kept dry. I picked nut the
ground for them to be penned in.
Cross-examined: On the 22nd they were very much
improved. Will swear they were quite as well on the
22nd of loebruary as when I first examined them. Will
swear tL.t yed cc I, • a the teeth. Was apprenticed
to a ri, 1•1116l1 estrator. Have cared thousands
of s'. r. mad oe y without they were too bad
to c The Loeb . . seep showed signs of gather.
inc. slam two o' • s off the tails. Dressed the
r.Aore I cut the oil. When I left on the first
iioth was not ther,-.. The sheep I had dressed were
out Sr the Mid. Sol:01.40 did sot go before me on the land
11- hi I new thmia on the 22nd they were in good bodily
.111. Nash gave :or the authority to cut a little of
eir tile off, to ui,:e the jump out of them. Have cut
Ascii tail. from .lmep of the woe sge. Have frequently
cot obeep's tails off, whether they were young or old.
have lone it many times, and no harm comes of it. They
do so I Meet! in the winter. Some alieep bleed more than
Ahem Ider,ury applied to the sheep improves the skin
-vool It is a dangerous thing to the sheep. It
nut', I, nee the strength of the sheep. I have not been
. to coil( Mercury would atop the pores of the skin.
fte-examined by Mr. Stokes : -Took off the tails of 40
sheep, and it did not have an ill effect come of it. Have
I never known any ill effect coming to the sheep from hav-
ing their tats cat.
Hy the Judge: It is the usual custom to cut the sheep's
tails to free them Dons dirt Do not think it proper to
leave a flock of sheep from the 19th January until the
2nd of February.
. .

Benjamin Hiliton, formerly in the employ of plaintiff,
said: He recollected the sheep, and saw them rubbing
and scratching, lie told Mr. Cox, a fanner, of it. They
caught two, andCux said they had the scab. Brooks was
rent for. Ho saw them, and said the sheep must be
housed and taken care of. This was said to Southall.
After Brooks left some of the sheep were turned out, and
they ware out until the end of March. The field at the
bottom was very marshy.
. . " '

„.
Cross-examined : I was head-gardener and under gar-
d,ser. far the pl.intdd. Had 14a per week. There were
three gardeners besides me. I did not have a character
from Mr. Collie. Went to Nash and toll him the sheep
had got the scab. That would be a fortnight before.
James Hudson nail: lam shepherd to Mr. Coz. I
know when sheep have the scab. Examined Mr. Collies
sheep, and found they had the scab. Know the Held
where the sheep were kept. Five acres sod a half of it
are very boggy, and not tit for sheep to be in in winter
time.

Ity the Judge: The richt is for five acres and a half
boggy. Don't know that it is four times the sue of flee
and a half acres. Can't say anything about it.
Thomas Williams, woodman at Stourton, said: I saw
the sheep about the miler bed. Saw them most mornings
until April.
This being the case,
. .

Mr. Godson replied on the evidence, and pointed out
the great discrepancies in the evidence for the defence,
especially in that of Brooks and Nash. Re also referred
to the evidence of Hudson, who had been charged with
injuring the plaintiff'e gateway, and to Hinton, who had
been discharged by Ma master. After some other
remarks,

His Honour proceeded to stun up the evidence, and said
the question for the jury to decide was—first, whether
any authority had been given to Nash by Mr. Collis to
employ Brooks to dress the sheep. If they found filet
Nash had authority to employ Brooks, thee there conies
a further question as to whether Brooks treated the
sheep properly or not. If you think there was no Autho-
rity, then you will find a verdict for the plaintiff. If you
consider there was authority, then you will think to what
amount the plaintiff is entitled through the sheep being
improperly treated. His Honour then reviewed the evi.
deuce given very carefully, going through every particular
on each side with great minuteneee, pointing out the way
in which each witness gave his evidenee,aud the demean.
our they had shown in the box whilst ander examination.
Their conduct in the box, and the way the witnesses gave
their answers, often led the jury to decide on the
truthfulness of one side or the other. His Honour re
marked that the i vidence for the plaintiff was that of
men of great and long experience. In addition, they
had scientific evidence, which the other aide had not.
Ile considered the evidence of Mr. Blekeway and Police.
sergeaut Baldwin very important. On the other hand
there was the evidence of Brooks and Nash. Either one
or the other had told a lie ; and. supposing the jury
thought the agency had been proved, then there tn. the
question that Brooks did not attend to the sheep for •
fortnight after he had been told tney were suffering from
the scab. The jury would judge on this. As regards
Hinton, who was • discharged servant, they must put
their own value on his evidence. Then, Hodson, a allep.
herd, who damaged the plaintiff! well, and his master,
Cos, having to pay for it. He evidently comes with
animus, and refuses to say what Ni7.o the field is alto.
ember, yet says that five and • half acres of it are very
soggy. The jury would judge of the value of his evidence.
The Judge turn pointed out that plaiutiff claimed for 10
sheep, valued at 30s each, amounting to £ts; one South
Bows, £3 ; and four lambs at lOs each, £2 : making 1:20.
Then the jury would next consider the deterioration of
the sheep, if any; and he (the Judge) again pointed out
the questions for their consideration.
The jury then retired for about ten minutes. On re-
turning into Court they found a verdict for defendant,
to the evident eetouidinient of • good many present.
The case occupied the Court nearly eight hours : the
summing opens hour and twenty minutes.