Cambridge Independent Press 15 Dec 1866: Cattle removed illegally to Mr Fetch's farm
Cambridge Division Perry Sessions
Saturday, Dec. 8.- Before the Rev. J. Thornhill (chairman), Major Pemberton, and T.J. Ficklin, Esq.
Trumpington.- Michael Gormon, Bridge Mayo, County Down, Ireland, appeared before the Bench under the following circumstances. It appeared that he was an extensive dealer in cattle, and that he was on his way with some 40 head of stock to Melford, Suffolk, but being unable to proceed, removed them from the Cambridge Railway Station to a field belonging to Mr. Fetch, at Trumpington. This was an infringement of the law, as he had no right, without an order, to remove the stock upon the highway. The order which he had was for removal by rail not by road, and hence his appearance before the Court. The cattle came from Ireland, and at Liverpool, an order, signed John Metcalfe, was obtained for the removal by rail of 45 head; but now it appeared there were but 38, and he was asked to account for the discrepancy. Mr. Gormon said that did not matter; he got an order to remove 45, but they only “shifted” 38. The trucks would not hold more, and the clerk at Liverpool signed the order without any hesitation. He started with only 38. It does not matter.
- The Rev. J. Thornhill: Yes, but it does matter.
- Mr. Gormon: You see, sir, I get to Cambridge, we unload here, but the Great Eastern Company have no accommodation, and I am obliged to go to Mr. Fetch and ask him to take my stock in or they would perish; and I now want to remove them on to Melford. I have been a great sufferer, and should be ruined if my stock were to remain at the station. I bring upon an average about 200 cattle into this district every month.
- Mr. Thornhill: Our difficulty is here. You have an order for 45 head to be removed, and we find you have but 38.
- Mr. Gormon: That is no breach. We can deliver 20 less if we like. The carriages would not hold more. There is no violation of the law.
- Mr. Ficklin thought the system opened our markets to disuse.
- Mr. Superindendent Stretten explained the circumstances of the case.
- Mr. Gormon said the Great Eastern Company had but little accommodation and the Great Northern none at all; and to have allowed his stock to have remained at the station he should have been a great loser – in fact he had been a sufferer of hundreds of pounds by the system.
- The room was cleared, and upon the re-admission of the public, Mr. Thornhill (addressing Mr. Gormon) said: We are not satisfied about this 38 beasts when your order states 45. We shall send to Ireland, where they were shipped, and also to Liverpool. We shall give you an order to go on to Melford on Monday, but we shall give instructions to our Inspector, Mr. Sparrow, to examine the cattle, who will see them to-morrow. We shall send the case up to the Privy Council, to ascertain whether it is right or not that you should remove beasts in this way; and you must not for the present bring any more cattle into Cambridge in this way.