Wandsworth Common

Joseph Page, a gardener, Charles Bailey and Joseph Deane, livery servants, and Thomas Pratt, a silk-printer, were charged at Union-hall office, by constables of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, with aiding at a cock-fight on Monday. The constables went to a beer-shop on Wandsworth-common, and saw Bailey and Deane fighting two cocks, the defendant Page having stationed himself at the door to receive the shilling admission money. One of the cocks was killed by a spur entering its head; two more cocks were then matched, and one of Pratt's was also killed. Several other cocks were fought, in which sport all the defendants took an active part. In the absence of evidence that they had been previously engaged in such scenes, the Magistrate mitigated the fine to 20s. each.