Star.
London, England, 1823-09-10 00:00:00

UNION-lIALL.

Yesterday Richard Martin, Esq. M.P. attended at this Office,
in order to prove the case of which 4e. a few days ago gave no.
tice, against Peter Law, fur cruelly beating and driving a horse
belonging to his employer, Thomas Fry, a kuacker, in Black-
friars-road,
Mr. Martin prefaced his charge with a few observations upon
the brutal conduct of the class of men called knackers. When a
poor worn-out horse was sold to one of these fellows for the pur.
pose of slaughter, in many instances it was worked as long as it,
bad a kg to stand upon, and frequently let out to job at the rate
of Is. tsd. or 2s. a-day, until, at length, the unfortunate animal
actually dropped down deal from e7.ce,.s:ve fatigue. IL, (Mr.
;Martin) went a few days asa to the house of a miscreant of this
description at Whitechapel. On entering the pound where horses
o' this description Were kept, he saw eight or ten poor starved
animals together. They appeared not to have bad a bit of food
for some time. When he asked at what time they had food last?
a fellow said," Oh a horse can live eight or nine days well with-
out a bit of food." He (Mr. Martin) sent for a truss of hay,
and they ran at it more like hungry hounds than horses. lie
then made some observations to the fellow on the Inhumanity of
keeping horses alive in the torture of starvation, but was treated
with impertinence by the rascal, who said," What business is it
of yours? If you want to be generous, give me some of your
money !" "By G—d, a halfpenny of mine you don't get," was
the reply.—Mr. Martin said, that Ery,tnust be a than of the
same kidney, or he never would have allowed his servant to
treat a poor animal with such cruelty.
The case was then proved. On the sth of September, Mr.
Martin saw Law driving a horse in a cart on the 131ackfriars-
rdad. The animal was quite lame, but. Law lashed it most
cruelly with a large whip on the twist, although there was a
lump there as large as the fellow's ugly head. There was also a
piece of iron in the horse's mouth, and- Law worked it up and
down, and put the animal to inexpressible torture. Besides all
this, the horse was driven at the rate of eight miles an hour on
tette legs. Anything so barbarous as the whole conduct of this
savage, Mr. Martin had nut Ken since the introduction of his
liilliuto Parliament.
The defendant denied that he had done anything of the kind.
Mr. Idartln.—There's Martin Whelan, my servant, saw the
thing as well as I did.
Defendant.—l did'nt drive the eras with no parader cruelty.
Mr. Martin started from his chair, and said, " By G—d, I
never saw worse treatment in my life. Let the horse be pro-
duced, and it will speak for itself.'
Mr. Cssaasseas requested that the Dun's name should not
be so frequently used in such a manner. "In fact, I ant under
penalty myself," said Mr. Chambers, " if I allow such a course
to be punted."
Whelan confirmed his master's statement.
Fry, for the defence, called a person named Edwards, who said
that he had seen no cruelty exercised by thistiefendant, and that
be did not see that the horse was lame.
Mr. Martin (snatching up Pye's Justice, which lay on the
table, and kissing It).--" kiy the contents of this book, what I
have said is tree; and I'll bet you any money, whatever you like,
• that you never saw a tamq horse."
Mr.. 01am:seas observed, that the evidence plainly demon-
strated that great cruelty bad been used.
'Fry begged the Magistrate would look at the horse himself.
In this request Mr. Martin most cordially joined.
The horse was then sent for. Its condition was most deplo-
rable. The stile bone was out of joint—an incurable injury.'
The poor animal had fallen two or three times in the struggle to
walk from Webber-street to the office.
Mr. CIIIAXIIIMS expressed the strongest indignation at the con-
sign of the defendant, and fined him £5. There is no appeal
front the conviction in this case, and the fine was paid. Mr.
Martin, before Mr. Chambers inflicted the penalty, told the de-
fendant that he would not prosecute if the horse was immediately
rat to death. The Magistrate, of course, after such evidence,
would not permit a compromise.
The defendant when told that he must pay £5, prayed hard
for a mitigated penalty, and Mr. Martin seconded him.
Cnansaas.--0 Upon what ground, Mr. Martin, do you
wish the fine to be mitigated?"
Idr. Martin.—.1 Why, then, upon my word I don't know."
Mr. Quantum only regretted that he could inflict no heavier
penalty.