VETERINARY JURISPRUDENCE. 
657 
lambs that Mr. Francis bought. He retained 166 out of the 266 ewes 
for lambing purposes, and had 156 lambs from them. He sold 155 out 
of the 166 ewes on the 10th June to Mr. Rawlins. Of the other 11 
3 died before lambing (they were giddy and were killed—not fluked), 1 
died from chill, 2 died in lambing, 2 were killed for the purposes of 
this action, and he had 3 still in his possession. 
Cross-examined by Mr. Norris .—His father bred thjese sheep on the farm. 
The land was well drained. There were a few rushes. 
Mr. Norris .—They are kept as a curiosity just to show that the land 
is light and sandy ? (Laughter.)—There was a place called North-Hills. 
It was decidedly not damp. It was not the driest and not medium : 
more dry than wet. There were very few rushes. 
Do rushes grow on light sandy soil ?—They don’t grow on the 
lightest. 
Do they grow generally on light sandy soil ?—They do not. 
Then 1 may take it the soil is heavy ?—Not heavy. 
Is it light ?—It is not light. 
Is it medium ?—It is not medium on my farm. 
Can you explain how the rushes came there?—It is beyond my know¬ 
ledge. 
Witness said there was also a field called Grass Meads which was in 
clover stubbie all last year. His brother was at Marlborough Fair with 
him. Mr. Rawlins, who brought the sheep was not now present, nor 
his brother. 
Had your brother any interest in these sheep ?—No. 
Has he a farm near yours ?—Three or four miles away. 
Were these animals ever on his farm ?--No. 
Has he had many sheep baned ?—All bailed. 
500 or 600 ?—No, I should say about 200. 
Witness was asked a number of questions to show in how short a 
distance one farm could be reached from the other, and he explained 
that about three miles was the shortest. 
Is Mr. Curnick’s farm near yours?—It joins. 
Has he had a great many baned sheep ?—Never had one that I 
know of. 
Don’t you know that sheep have been baned there by scores ?—They 
have not. 
You will pledge your oath ?—I will pledge my oath. 
Have’nt they been killed and carried away in carts ?—They never 
have. 
Re-examined .—Mr. Curnick’s house is half a mile from mine. He has 
lost some sheep this winter, but not by rot. 
What did they die of?—Chill and other causes, but not rot. 
Alfred Woodridge, Bromham, shepherd to Mr. Butler for three years, 
spoke to taking the ewes to the fair ; and Mr. Everett, farmer of Over- 
ton, was also called, but very few questions were asked either witness; 
in fact, Mr. Everett was not examined at all. 
Mr. Thomas Beasley , M.R.C.V.S., of Hilperton, said he was an inspector 
under the Cattle Diseases Act. He knew Mr. Butler’s farm, and had had 
pointed out to him where the ewes were folded. He had heard defend¬ 
ant’s evidence, and knew the two fields that grew the rushes. They 
both laid away from the farm. The farm was square, and these lay away 
from the rest on the lower part. They were not so dry as the other. 
The rest was perfectly healthy. On the 20th May he saw Mr. Butler’s 
sheep looking very well; they were all perfectly healthy, and very good 
sheep indeed. 
