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College, arrived, and, having examined the carcase and offal,
gave it as his opinion that the carcase was sound and fit for
human food. I did not agree with this gentleman's opinion,
and, notwithstanding the protests of the owner and the trade
officials, I seized it, as well as the offal, and had them removed
to the Council's premises at Lombard Road, whence next day
they were taken to the South-Western Police Court, and
inspected and condemned by the magistrate, Mr. de Grey.
The facts were fully reported to the Health Committee, as
well as the subsequent inquiries which were made by Inspector
Chuter into the sale of the animals to Greenwood. From these
inquiries it was reported that the two beasts had been purchased
by a peripatetic dealer named Howard for £8 from the
steward of an estate near London (who admitted that he sold
the ox in question because it had "not done as well as the
others"), and resold to Greenwood for £10, though the latter
stated he gave £13 for the beasts.
The trade officials asked for an interview with the Health
Committee, which was granted. After giving the case careful
consideration, the Committee ordered proceedings to be taken,
with the result already mentioned.
The Committee decided to instruct the Council's Solicitor to
get the magistrate to state a case, but later the Solicitor
informed the Committee that he had been in communication
with the solicitors for the defendant, who offered to forego the
costs which had been given against the Council, if the Council
took no further action. The Committee accepted this offer,
and reported their action to the Council. The extract from the
Minutes of the Council dated 13th March, 1907, reads as
follows :—
“The Solicitor has reported that he has been in communication
with Messrs. W. T. Ricketts and Son, the solicitors to
the defendant in the proceedings recently taken by the Council
in respect of the seizure of the carcase of an ox from No. 49
York Road, as to the payment of the costs given against the