COCKFIGHTING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 155, 4 July 1938, Page 7

COCKFIGHTING.

FINES IMPOSED.

FIFTY SPECTATORS. \ MATCHES IN LONELY PART. INFORM AlfT THREATENED, j (Special.—By Air Mail.) | LONDON, June 14. Cockfighting matches watched by 30 People in a lonely part of Westmorland were described in court at Hackthorpe, near Penrith, when tines ranging from *M) to £10 were imposed on 17 men. The total was £330. Twenty-one persons figured in 43 •ummonees. Each was summoned for •«ts causing unnecessary suffering to •By animal." and for "assisting at the fighting or baiting of any animal." There **» a further summon* against one ot the men, a farmer, for "permitting Premises to be used for the purpose of wckfighting." All pleaded not guilty, but after hearing evidence 13 admitted that cockfight"•g took place. Before the magistrates retired, the prosecution withdrew summonses against three of the men and a youth aged 16. After the fines had been announced, Prosecuting counsel told the magistrates *h»t it had come to his knowledge that •erious threats were being made against *°e Principal informant, a Mr. Mardon. The chairman said that if such a case «*me before the Court the delinquent •oold be severely dealt with. How the informant. Mr. Mardon. con■Oeted inquiries on behalf of the Dumb friends' League, was described by counsel. He was employed as an investigator t© And evidence of the practice of cock ■gfcting, Md at the end „f 1937 was "troduced to Hugh Broadbent, oi Cheshire. Through him he was introduced tc Herbert Whitehead," said counsel, "ami

also later to Evelyn Coburn and Luke! RurHey" (all defendants). Mardon hail some years' experience of' inquiries into rock-fighting on the Continent. He changed his name to "Alfred Fleming" for the purpose of his inquiries into this case. Air. Mardon got into the men's confidence, promising j to buy fighting birds and. with hisj brother. set up his own breeding establishment. He met Broadbent audi Whitehead at a public-house in Ashton-under-Lyne following letters to him.' One of them, from Whitehead, told him:! "Don't get downhearted, you will scei some fighting before long.'' "I have challenged a. lady for £100 and have had no reply yet," read a (further extract. A letter from Broadl>ent. said Mr. Olazebrook. mentioned arrangements !for ''a. three-hand main of £10 and £2 !a battle." It was a main between a 'team of thrc-e cocks from Lancashire land one from Cumberland. i Would Not Fight. Counsel then described the alleged main held, he said, in a field behind a farm near Orton, Westmorland, where iMardon. his brother and a friend, were met by another of the defendants. ■i Moses Hully. There were about 30 ,i people there. ! The cockpit was chosen, the pitch (swept, and the birds were weighed and had their spurs fitted. The first fight Jwas short. The Cumberland bird proved 'to be a "runner." which meant it did not want to fight. It was caught and killed. The second fight lasted for 20 to 23 minutes. j In the course of such i fight the birds '(were knocked over and the setter picked !his bird up and, apparently, to assist its i breathing, sucked the blood out of its |throat, said Mr. Olazebrook. It was 'decided the Lancashire bird had won, 'and the Cumberland bird was killed. ; In the third fight the Lancashire bird : which proved to be a runner, war, chased land caught, and Hugh Broadbent. it was 'iallced. tried to break its neck over his He did not succeed, and the bird Jwas killed by a spectator. I The Cumberland cock intended for Jifnat fight was then matched with the - Lancashire cock which had fought the r long fight, and which was obviously - exhausted, said counsel. s They fought for a considerable time f The Lancashire cock was blinded in both eyes bv spurs, but the spectators j refused to allow the fight to stop until I the bird was obviously "finished." Then.

alleged Mr. Cdazebrook, Hugh Broad- 1 bent tried to kill it by putting his foot J on its head, but a spectator came up and killed it. That was the end of the main. There had been a lot of betting, and afterwards the hat went round "for the farmer." The contributions were handed to William Hully. Mr. Mardon, in the witness box, gave his name as Alfred Samuel (Jeorge Mardon, and described himself as an official] investigator on behalf of Our Dumb Friends' League. Birds Heeled. Describing the alleged main, Mr. Mardon said: "I saw the birds heeled. The Lancashire cocks were heeled by Hugh Broadbent and Luke Ruffley. '•The crowd was criticising the birds, and saying that they were weak and had no striking power. The Lancashire cock won finally." Referring to how Hugh Broadbent J tried to kill a cock which proved a ; runner in the third fifiht. Mr. Mardon isaid that Broadbent took the bird by its legs in one hand and stretched it [across his leg. He could not kill it. land a spectator took "t from him and jdislocated its neck in < ■■ proper way. ! Of the fight in which it was alleged 'a cock's eyes were penetrated by j spurs, Mr. Mardon said: "Some spectators were shouting | that the bird was blind, and the 'others were shouting that a blind bird !could win." j Mr. said Hujrh Broadbent .again tried to kill the blind cock, but ;it was killed by another spectator. There 'was not very' much betting. ] Cross-examined by Mr. Rowson, Mr. j Mardon said that he would prefer to | write down his address rather than give it in open court. I "I have received threats," he said. "You might receive more—the police I will protect you," said Mr. Rowson. I Air. Mardon said that he had spent Iquite a lot of money entertaining the men from time to time. The Dumb j Friends' League paid for it. I Mr. Rowson: Would it be right to I say that the main you saw was arranged for your benefit and your brother's ? —No. I suggest you induced all the chief participators to get the main up?— That is quite untrue. You meant to act as a spy, you bought birds?— Yes.