142 
VETERINARY JURISPRUDENCE. 
Sir James Duke asked if there was any witness present to 
speak to the state of the horse before being brought to King’s 
Arms-yard. 
Mr. Morgan said there was not, as it was not important to 
the defence. The horse was suffering from madness, and 
the violence complained of was the result of a paroxysm of 
the brain, which might come on suddenly at any time, 
although the horse might previously have been apparently 
quiet and docile. 
Sir James Duke thought that it was highly necessary some 
evidence as to the general state of the horse should be given. 
The summonses were then adjourned for that purpose ; 
and on February 8, the inquiry was resumed before Sir Peter 
Laurie, when Mr. Thomas again appeared for the Society, 
and Mr. Ribton for the defendant. 
James Beeson, a veterinary surgeon, of 35 years’ experience, 
examined the horse in question after death, and found the 
brain in a very diseased state. A quantity of serum came 
from it, which was probably caused by over-exertion. The 
disease appeared to have been of three or four months’ 
standing, and it could not come on suddenly. Belgian 
horses are more vicious than others, and are sent over to 
this country, ten or twelve years old, without being shod. 
He had seen the owner of the horse, and he said distinctly 
he had not been paid for the loss of the horse, and neither 
did he expect any compensation. 
Thomas Moore, a horse-slaughterer, took the skin off the 
horse, and saw no marks of violence upon the body. If 
cruelty had been used, bruises would have been visible 
beneath the skin. 
J ohn Charlish was present in the shed in King’s Arms- 
yard, and witnessed the whole occurrence. The horse 
plunged violently, and nearly kicked the elder defendant on 
the head. Richard nearly got squeezed against the bar, 
but fortunately avoided the horse by slipping under the bar. 
The blows were not very hard ; in fact, not more than he 
(witness) could have borne. 
Sir Peter Laurie said the witness must be a regular rhino- 
ceros if he could bear such blows. 
Witness was confident that no hammer had been used by 
any one on the horse. There was no “ twitch” used. 
Mr. Reynolds, sen., gave similar evidence, and added that 
no complaint had ever been made before of horses being 
ill-treated by him or his sons. 
Sir Peter Laurie said the case was very clear. The de- 
fendants had lost their temper and the management of the 
