Italian and his donkey

"AN ITALIAN AND HIS DONKEY": "Lucas Diplacite, an Italian organ grinder, of Pheasant Street, Worcester, was charged with ill-treating a donkey at Powick. The evidence was interpreted by the Rev A. Telfer.

"PC Jones saw the defendant severely thrashing a donkey which was attached to an organ. Witness followed the Italian along the road and saw him strike the donkey on the ribs very severely again. In consequence of the thrashing, the donkey swerved across the road once or twice.

"Defendant admitted striking the donkey but only lightly as it was getting very late at night. He was fined 10s. and 7s.6d in costs, and all the money was paid over in coppers."

"FURIOUS RIDING": "Harry Page of Ombersley was fined 10s. with 4s.6d costs for riding a bicycle furiously at Holt. PC Smith said defendant was going at a rate of between 20 and 25 miles an hour."

"DRUNK IN CHARGE": Charles Smith, labourer of Doddenham, denied being drunk while in charge of a horse and trap at Broadwas. However, Frederick William Flux, landlord of the Royal Oak, Broadwas, gave evidence as to Smith's state of drunkenness. The defendant, who had 24 previous convictions, was fined £1 with 17s. costs."

"BIRCHING FOR BAD BOYS": "Thomas Oldham (aged nine) and George Griffiths (10), both of Tybridge Street, were summonsed for wilful damage by destroying containers of paint, value £2, in a yard off Tybridge Street. The court heard that the boys broke into a shed, mixed paint and tar, and painted doors and walls with a freehand. The Bench ordered both boys to receive six strokes of the birch."