The Sun.
London, England, 1844-03-12 00:00:00

MARYLEBONE.

• Sir Simon Clarke, Bart., residing at Oak-hill, East
Barnet, attended at this Court, before Mr. Rawlinson,
at the instance of Mr. May, Secretary to the National
Animals' Friend Society, Exeter Hall, and Mark-lane,
upon two summonses which had been obtained against
him ; one of which was for ill-treating an.l torturing a
horse, and the other for assaulting Henry Mender May,
an officer belonging to the said Society.
Thomas George .Plume (clerk end collector to the
Society referred to) stated that on Wednesday last, be-
tween one and two o'clock, as he was passing along
Oxford-street, accompanied by Mr. May, the officer, he
saw defendant driving a horse and chaise out of Tollett's
stable-yard. Perceiving that there was a wound on the
-left shoulder beneath the collar, ho laid hold of the reins,
and having stopped the animal, asked the defendant if
he was aware of the condition it was in, but nothing
more was said to him than " Let go." The poor animal
shook as if suffering much pain, and witness perceived
another wound ['poll the right shoulder, from which
matter was issuing. Defendant afterwards used violence
towards Mr. May.
Mr. RAWLINSON—What did he do ? Witness—He de-
sired me to L t go, and I did so, and Mr. May then took
hold of the reins ; he also drew his staff from his pocket,
saying, "I am a constable." Defendant stood up in his
chaise, with his whip in his hand, threatening to cut Mr.
May to pieces if he did not loose his hold. I asked him
(defendant) for his card, but he stated he had not got
one, and he immediately jumped out of his chaise, whet' he
collared Mr. May, and laid hold of his wrist. He (de-
fendant) then went back into the stable-yard, promising
to write his address and bring it, but he did not return.
Mr. RAWLINSON—Is the horse you have spoken of the
same that I saw here last Wednesday ? Witness—Yes,
Sir.

It may here be remarked that the Baronet's servant
was taken into custody as he was in the act of driving
off, and brought to this Court ; but as it was considered
by the Magistrate that his master, Sir Simon Clarke, was
the party to blame, the summonses against him w ere
consequently issued. Previously to the summonses being
made out, the wounds on the horse were inspected by
Mr. Rawlinson and Lord Montfort.

Mr. Henry Mander May, who described himself as
Assistant Secretary and constable to the National Ani-
mals' Friend Society corroborated the preceding evi-
dence, adding that defendant shook him when requested
to go to the station-house and give his name and address.
Sir Simon Clarke's answer to the charge was that he
had committed no violence whatever, and that when
asked his name he gave it ; he also offered to give his
address if the officer would accompany him down the
yard, but that he would not do ; he (Sir Simon Clarke)
drove the horse up to Esher on the Monday, and, as its
shoulders were galled, ho had the collar altered by his
harness maker. The animal had a day's rest in town,
and he was about to drive it home with the altered
collar when the witnesses stopped him as they had de-
posed to. Plume said to the other officer, " He's inter-
fering with your duty ; take out your staff and strike him."
Samuel Hardwick, the groom, said he heard the words
" take out your staff," but he heard nothing about " strike
him." Sir Simon Clarke promised to give his address
to one of the officers if ho would go down the yard, but
he never made his appearance there.
Sir Simon Clarke further said that the horse which he
was driving was a high spirited one, and that when the
officer laid hold of the reins he was fearful that' by his
doing so an accident might have been caused.
Sir Simon Clarke was not punished for the assault,
but he was fined 40s. for the " cruelty," which amount
he immediately paid.