The Sun.
London, England, 1844-06-26 00:00:00

EVIDENCE.

Mr. Forth, on his examination, states—Leander was sent
to my stables during the Goodwood races in 1842 ; he was
then a large, coarse-looking colt. I tried him on or about
August 24, 1843, with Venus, at 31bs, she being then three
years old; Leander won the trial two or three lengths. I
then suspected that Leander might be three years old. I
left home to go Warwick races early in September, 1 843, and
did not return till November or December. I took no steps
to ascertain Leander's age till February, 1844, when Mr.
Wood, veterinary surgeon, having been sent for by me to
attend two sick horses, I asked him to examine a
horse's mouth ; he did so, and said he was a backward three-
years-old. I said the horse is Leander. I asked him to give
a certificate to the effect that Leander is three-years-old,
which he did. This satisfied me. I took the lower jaw of
Leander to Mr. Field, veterinary surgeon, in Oxford-street, on
Saturday after Epsom races. From all the circumstances
which have since transpired, I have no doubt now that Lean-
der was four years old when he ran for the Derby Stakes.
Mr. Wood, veterinary surgeon at Arundel, says :—I was de-
sired to examine the mouth of a horse in Feb., 1844. He was a
dark bay horse with black legs. I declared him to be three years
old. Mr. Forth told me afterwards that the horse whose
mouth I examined was Leander. Mr. Forth asked me to
give a certificate that Leander was three years old, which
did. (Mr. Wood was then shown the lower jaw of a horse;
he said at once, that is the jaw of a three years' old horse;
he was then desired to examine the jaw, and to state
to the Club why he thought it that of a three
years' old ? Ile did so, and then said, it is
the jaw of a four years old ; the lower teeth do not reach that
length till a horse is four years old, or nearly so. The jaw pro-
duced was Leander's jaw, which had been in Mr. Field's cus-
tody since Epsom races. 1 examined the horse in February,
rather carelessly, and thought he was three years old. I
think that in the space of three months such an alteration as
that between the horse I examined in February, and the
jaw now produced, could hardly have taken place.
Mr. Field, veterinary surgeon, says Mr. Forth called on
me after Epsom races, and left in my care the lower jaw of a
horse which I now produce, which he said was Leander's
jaw ; it is decidedly the jaw of a four years old horse. The
upper jaw now produced is also that of a four year old ; the
whole being put together exactly fits ; 1 can always decide
between a three and a four year old without doubt.
Mr. Bartlett, veterinary surgeon, being called in, says the
head of a horse, which I now produce, was examined by me at
Leatherhead on May 25 ; the lower jaw had been previously
cut off. The head has been in my possession ever since ; it
is the head of a four years old horse. The lower jaw now
produced exactly fits and belongs to the head. Col. Anson
told me, on the 25th of May, when I examined the head, that
it was Leander's head. 1 cannot be mistaken between the
age of a three years old and a four years old, nor can I
between a two and a three years old, unless some trick has
been played.
Mr. Mitchell says—l saw Leander lying on the ground
after he was shot. I thought he had the mouth of a young
three-year old, and desired that his lower jaw might be cut
off for the satisfaction of Mr. Forth. I do not know a two-
year old from a three-year old, nor a three-year old from a
four-year old. I can give no opinion as to the age of the
horse whose jaw is now produced. I was not aware that
what appeared in the newspapers with my signature at-
tached would be printed.
Mr. Forth, jun., having attended on the 24th of June to
hear the evidence of his father read, says-1 went to Mr.
'Wood on Monday after the last Epsom races, and asked him
if he remembered examing Leander's mouth in February last,
he said he did ; he thought him then three years old. I
asked him to give a certificate to that effect which he did.
Mr. Forth produced the certificate, which was dated May
27, 1844.