Denton Examiner, Audenshaw, Hooley Hill and Dukinfield Advertiser. — 1877-09-15 (Denton, Greater Manchester, England)

ALLEGED CRUELTY TO GEESE, MODE OF PACKING POULTRY FOR TRANSIT BY RAIL.  On Monday morning, at theßorough Police Court Ashton, John Hopley and James Hopley, of Goole, Yorkshire, were summoned, at the instance of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, for cruelly illtreating aua torturing a number of geese by causing them to be overcrowded and overpacked. Mr Williamson, chief inspector of the Mancha. ter branch of the society, appeared to prosecute, and Mr Broadbent defended. Captain Arrowsmith, of the Cheshire Constabulary, was called. He stated that en the day in question he was at Guidebridge Station, when a London and North-Western goods train came in. Upon one of the tracks there were several cases, each containing about iO live geese. They were in a very cramped position, and were so huddled together that they could not stand. The cases were about 10 inches high, 3 feet wide, and 4 feet .6 inches long. They were consigned to the dePendants, and he copied the address :from the eirection card and handed it to the sociey's officer. He did not think the fowls would have difficulty in breathing, as there was an aperture all round each ease, through which air would be freely admitted. His object in bringing:this matter forward was that the poultry should be better packed when intended to be sent long distances by rail. Mr Williamson: Your opinion is that these geese were in pain? Captain Arrowsmith I cannot say that, but any person with common sense must know that a bird in such& position for a long space of time must suffer pain. By Mr Broadbent: I do not know that the birds would have smothered one another if they had had room to stand up. I Gannet say it is likely they would have done se. Mr Thomas Mefferd, of Hyde, the next witness, said he was with Captain Arrowsmith at guidebridge Station on the oceasion to which he had re-. ferred, and saw the cases of geese. The cases would certainly be not more than ten inches deep, inside measure, and the birds were no cramped they could not stir. They were _making a noise, and he thought were in pain. Inspector Bamforth said he served the summons upon the defendants, one of whom said at the time "Hew can there be any cruelty, they (the geese) unpacked all right." The magistrates having conferred together, the Chairman said they did not think the evidence was sufficient to warrant a conviction. He would suggest that the society should try the question in some large centre to which those fowls were taken in large numbers, and where they could get scientific evidence, which they could not here. There seemed to be a link wanting is the chain of evidence. With respect to the breathing space, they had not shown whether or not there was , room for the birds properly to expand their lungs. This was a commercial matter, and should not be too mucb interfered with. While the society was quite right in t. ringing those things forward they must not go too far. Mr Willie moon said similar cases had been heard . in Manchester and elsewhere, and the parties had been convicted. Would teeir worships .grant a case for appeal ? The Clerk The beach have decidel on the question of feet not on law. I deal, see what good you would eet by appealing. ' Mr Broadbent You can give nothe any time within 14 days. The partiee then left the cnurf.  At lianiey, on Tuesday, Thomas Abbate+ ut• tempted to murder a woman named ilrocutc who woe washing in his boon', by cutting her throat. She is in a dangerous condition. The motive for the crime is unknown.  Cricttrt.  ND GROC,  'fhis wut  Inst. Sew,  ft II I.A:kwoo,l la, ,ieeton b Lockwood o' is l.ockwod ;” b Seaton c Buckley b Seaton b Lozkwood H Howe h Schofield "au b Seaton Nield c Mills b Schofield J Nield not out Jenkins a Bayley b Schofield Extras