DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70266#0351
ACCOUNT OF MR. THOMAS COOKE,
311
to cure the horse’s knees, would throw in the saddle and
bridle into the bargain. This was agreed to on the part of
the owner, and the horse, under the care of a skilful farrier,
was soon completely cured, and made as well as ever.
The .gentleman who bought the horse, belonged to a club
of respectable tradesmen who frequented the Three Tuns
chop-house, in Smithfield, and who in the summer season
occasionally made an excursion to dine at a certain tavern,
a few miles from town. He being one of the party, and
coming rather late, the rest of the gentlemen, who were
standing at the parlour window, noticed the horse, and ob^
served, that he did not appear the worse for the severe
operation he had undergone some months back. • This, of
course, brought on an enquiry as to what they meant, and
the truth was soon discovered. Cooke, on the day he had
borrowed the horse for a trial, came to this very house,
and alighting, led the horse to a farrier’s shop near at
hand. He there made his proposal to the farrier’s man,
(the master being from home) to cut and mangle the
horse’s knees, so as to make him bleed freely, but to do it
so as not to injure any . of the tendons. To this act of
cruelty the fellow at first objected, but upon Cooke’s repre^
senting that there was a considerable bet depending on it,
and saying that if he would not do it, he should easily find
some one else that would—the fellow thought he might as
well earn the reward (two pots of beer) as another, and ac-
cordingly scored and lacerated the poor horse, to the satisfao
tionof Mr.Cooke, and the disgust andhorror of the bystanders,
some of whom were the very men that were then assembled
at the dinner party. In that condition the inhuman wretch
rode the miserable animal to town, exulting in the hope,
that by this stratagem, he should get the horse some
pounds cheaper.
Sir Barnard Turner having, about the year 1783, made
Mr. Cooke an advantageous proposal for the sugar-house
311
to cure the horse’s knees, would throw in the saddle and
bridle into the bargain. This was agreed to on the part of
the owner, and the horse, under the care of a skilful farrier,
was soon completely cured, and made as well as ever.
The .gentleman who bought the horse, belonged to a club
of respectable tradesmen who frequented the Three Tuns
chop-house, in Smithfield, and who in the summer season
occasionally made an excursion to dine at a certain tavern,
a few miles from town. He being one of the party, and
coming rather late, the rest of the gentlemen, who were
standing at the parlour window, noticed the horse, and ob^
served, that he did not appear the worse for the severe
operation he had undergone some months back. • This, of
course, brought on an enquiry as to what they meant, and
the truth was soon discovered. Cooke, on the day he had
borrowed the horse for a trial, came to this very house,
and alighting, led the horse to a farrier’s shop near at
hand. He there made his proposal to the farrier’s man,
(the master being from home) to cut and mangle the
horse’s knees, so as to make him bleed freely, but to do it
so as not to injure any . of the tendons. To this act of
cruelty the fellow at first objected, but upon Cooke’s repre^
senting that there was a considerable bet depending on it,
and saying that if he would not do it, he should easily find
some one else that would—the fellow thought he might as
well earn the reward (two pots of beer) as another, and ac-
cordingly scored and lacerated the poor horse, to the satisfao
tionof Mr.Cooke, and the disgust andhorror of the bystanders,
some of whom were the very men that were then assembled
at the dinner party. In that condition the inhuman wretch
rode the miserable animal to town, exulting in the hope,
that by this stratagem, he should get the horse some
pounds cheaper.
Sir Barnard Turner having, about the year 1783, made
Mr. Cooke an advantageous proposal for the sugar-house