202 ACTIONS AT LAW. 



He would tell them that there was not a more honest horse 

 in the world, and that nothing would have induced him to 

 sell it but the circumstance of its being too good for his 

 work. Even with the bad character it had received, there 

 were gentlemen who would willingly have given eighty- 

 guineas for it at Aldridge's if they had known of the sale. 

 It was there sold without notice ; the defendant was denied 

 any opportunity of inspection previous to the sale ; and 

 notwithstanding that every inquiry had been made, he had 

 been unable to ascertain what had become of the horse. 

 There was a strong suspicion of " smuggling " after it had 

 left Mr. Palmer's possession, for even the letter announcing 

 that the horse had been sent to Aldridge's must have been 

 posted after Strange had returned from the sale. 



Mr. Henry Cannon, the defendant, on being sworn, 

 said he bought the horse for thirty-three guineas, at a 

 fair. It was then four years old. He rode it from 

 Crowmarsh to Didcot, where it was sent by rail to 

 Chippenham. He rode it home from Chippenham the 

 same night, and next day put it to collar-work on his farm. 

 It was so quiet that a boy at two shillings a week used to lead 

 it. It was remarkably quiet in the stable, and in harness 

 it was one of the straightest horses that he had ever sat 

 behind. It never broke a buckle or a strap during the 

 time he had it. It was an unusually fine goer across 

 country. Nothing was said about its shying when 

 Mr. Palmer and his coachman came over to look at it. 

 It would skip and jump a bit when fresh, as all horses would 

 do, but there was no vice about it. He had driven it 

 through water, and never knew it to rear, bolt, jib or shy. 



The witness was asked in cross-examination whether he 

 ever knew the horse shy, but he declined to answer the 

 question for some time, and said he would stop until 

 Mr. Edlin was tired of repeating it. On being admonished 

 by the learned judge, he admitted that he had known it 



