Kimberley Butcher Fined £100. Illegal Slaughter & Sale.

“THE LAW DEFIED.

“KIMBERLEY BUTCHER FINED £100.

“You have deliberately defied the law. We think it a bad case. You have tried to steal other people's custom by having an over-supply beef. We don't believe your story about jealousy."

“These remarks were addressed by Mr. Stanley Birkin, the chairman of the Nottingham Shire Hall magistrates to-day [29th June 1918], in imposing fines amounting to a hundred pounds and another ten guineas costs for offences under the Livestock (Restriction of Slaughter) Order.

“The defendant was Arthur Woodcock, 47, a butcher, of Kimberley. Mr E. Huntsman, who prosecuted, said there were four charges. The first was slaughtering a beast which had not been bought in a market within 14 days; the second was that of killing an unmarked calf; the third was dealing in an amount of meat, above that allocated to him; and the fourth was selling meat to customers in his slaughterhouse.

“The beast was bought at the farm of Thomas Ellis, at Kimberley, on March 26th. When Mr. Hunt ,the meat allocator, was passing the shop on the 28th he saw the carcase hanging up. Woodcock's explanation was that Mr. Ellis sent for him to kill the beast and that it was a “good beef animal.” The calf was bought at the farm of Mr. Twell, of Trowell.

“Mr. Hunt, the meat allocator, said that amount of meat allotted to the defendant for one week in March was 141 lbs., which was 7 lbs. over his proper quantity. On the following day (March 28th) witness visited the slaughter-house and saw a quarter of frozen beef being cut up, another carcase of beef weighing about 40 stones, four calves, and a portion of another calf. The total amount of meat which he had there was about 951 lbs. as against an allowance of 141 lbs. Each butcher was entitled to 50 per cent. of his October sales.

“On May 17th, another official found the defendant cutting and selling meat in his slaughterhouse at Awsworth, which was half a mile from his shop. He had previously been warned that this was illegal, but his plea was that it prevented a queue at his shop. By serving behind closed doors, no one knew what was going on.

“Defendant now pleaded that the proceedings were prompted by jealousy. Not one butcher in 500 made an accurate return of his sales. What use was 101 lbs. of beef amongst 400 customers? He had made no secret about selling in his slaughter-house, which saved customers a walk of half a mile to his shop.

“On hearing the decision of the Bench defendant said: I suppose I can appeal.

“The Chairman: Certainly, but I should not advise you to. You pleaded guilty to three out of the four charges.

“Defendant: I'm afraid I shan't do any more butchering.”

'Nottingham Evening Post', 29th June 1918.