It was said the there could not have been a more popular person around the Newmarket Heath stables and is environs at the beginning of the nineteenth century, than one Daniel Dawson. His personality was such that he amassed friends in numbers that was quite amazing. He was considered a most trustworthy friend and employee, and his kindness to both man an beast was there for all to enjoy. It was thought that his efforts in finding work for a new comer to the area, attested to his fine character. The person in question, Cecil Bishop, a one time pharmacist, was not readily accepted by the locals, so it came as a bit of a surprise that Dan would vouch for him. But Dan's word was good enough. Bishop was a quiet man who for the most part, shunned the company of others. The exception being Dan Dawson. They became as thick as thieves.
For three years both Dan and Cecil went about their duties of looking after other people's racehorses. Nobody paid them a second thought. To anyone of any note, they were just a couple of toilers who held positions well down the pecking order when it came to the hierarchy of stable standings. But things were not as they seemed. The pair had been quietly going about the business of nobbling horses on behalf of a man called Trieste, and some shifty bookmakers in London. They were good at what they did, and were never at any stage placed under suspicion. But things were about to change.
The world of mass horse doping exploded upon the scene of English horse racing in the Spring of 1811, at the two year old meeting at Newmarket. One of the nation's premier trainers, Richard Prince had six of his horses poisoned. The trainer's head lad managed to get caster oil down the throats of the two Sir Sitwell's horses, Reveller and Coelebs, and in doing so, saved the lives of both animals. Dandy and Pirouette, owned by Lord Foley, Eagle owned by Sir Frederick Standish and Lord George Cavendish's Spaniard, all met with a gruesome death. It was said that the manner in which Spaniard passed, was truly horrific.
Pirouette had the day before raced in the Claret Stakes where it had been the medium of heavy ante post betting. With a massive potential payout on their hands, Dan Dawson and Cecil Bishop were given orders to stop the horse. A few days before the race, they injected an arsenic solution into the water trough at the Prince stable. Much to the consternation of the nobblers, nothing seemed to be happening. The horses were all in fine fettle. Little did the pair know though, that the trainer wasn't taking any chances. He'd secured the trough so as none of his team could use it. In desperation, Dawson had Bishop crank up the dose. Into the trough it went, but still to no effect. They need not have bothered. Pirouette ended up being beaten on it merits. The troubles started the next day when the order was given to unseal the trough. The six horses took to the heavily poisoned water, and paid a dreadful price.
A time later, in London, Cecil Bishop found himself in the hands of the law. In no time flat, he spilled his guts. On august 15 1811, Daniel Dawson was arrested and charged as a principle in the act of poisoning. At his trial, it quickly became apparent that the police had made a terrible mistake. The judge instructed the jury to return a not guilty verdict, as the defendant had been arrested as a principle when he was in fact working for others, so was therefore, in reality, an accessory before the fact. Dan was a happy man, until he reached the door. He was promptly re-arrested. The charge: the poisoning of two brood mares and a hack. He was indicted under what was then known as the Black Act, a law enacted better than a hundreds years before. It's purpose was to see that anyone found guilty of wantonly killing cattle (and I presume horses) was put to death without benefit of clergy.
Dan Dawson made no effort to conceal his loathing for all who had anything to do with bringing him undone during his trial. He railed against all, especially Cecil Bishop who gave evidence against him. Derision was the order of the day. He showed no remorse. He made next to effort to defend himself. He called no witnesses. The Jury took just minutes to find him guilty. To the end, he refused to reveal the names of those who hired him. On August 12 1812, at 8 in the morning, Daniel Dawson had his life terminated at the end of a rope.
For three years both Dan and Cecil went about their duties of looking after other people's racehorses. Nobody paid them a second thought. To anyone of any note, they were just a couple of toilers who held positions well down the pecking order when it came to the hierarchy of stable standings. But things were not as they seemed. The pair had been quietly going about the business of nobbling horses on behalf of a man called Trieste, and some shifty bookmakers in London. They were good at what they did, and were never at any stage placed under suspicion. But things were about to change.
The world of mass horse doping exploded upon the scene of English horse racing in the Spring of 1811, at the two year old meeting at Newmarket. One of the nation's premier trainers, Richard Prince had six of his horses poisoned. The trainer's head lad managed to get caster oil down the throats of the two Sir Sitwell's horses, Reveller and Coelebs, and in doing so, saved the lives of both animals. Dandy and Pirouette, owned by Lord Foley, Eagle owned by Sir Frederick Standish and Lord George Cavendish's Spaniard, all met with a gruesome death. It was said that the manner in which Spaniard passed, was truly horrific.
Pirouette had the day before raced in the Claret Stakes where it had been the medium of heavy ante post betting. With a massive potential payout on their hands, Dan Dawson and Cecil Bishop were given orders to stop the horse. A few days before the race, they injected an arsenic solution into the water trough at the Prince stable. Much to the consternation of the nobblers, nothing seemed to be happening. The horses were all in fine fettle. Little did the pair know though, that the trainer wasn't taking any chances. He'd secured the trough so as none of his team could use it. In desperation, Dawson had Bishop crank up the dose. Into the trough it went, but still to no effect. They need not have bothered. Pirouette ended up being beaten on it merits. The troubles started the next day when the order was given to unseal the trough. The six horses took to the heavily poisoned water, and paid a dreadful price.
A time later, in London, Cecil Bishop found himself in the hands of the law. In no time flat, he spilled his guts. On august 15 1811, Daniel Dawson was arrested and charged as a principle in the act of poisoning. At his trial, it quickly became apparent that the police had made a terrible mistake. The judge instructed the jury to return a not guilty verdict, as the defendant had been arrested as a principle when he was in fact working for others, so was therefore, in reality, an accessory before the fact. Dan was a happy man, until he reached the door. He was promptly re-arrested. The charge: the poisoning of two brood mares and a hack. He was indicted under what was then known as the Black Act, a law enacted better than a hundreds years before. It's purpose was to see that anyone found guilty of wantonly killing cattle (and I presume horses) was put to death without benefit of clergy.
Dan Dawson made no effort to conceal his loathing for all who had anything to do with bringing him undone during his trial. He railed against all, especially Cecil Bishop who gave evidence against him. Derision was the order of the day. He showed no remorse. He made next to effort to defend himself. He called no witnesses. The Jury took just minutes to find him guilty. To the end, he refused to reveal the names of those who hired him. On August 12 1812, at 8 in the morning, Daniel Dawson had his life terminated at the end of a rope.
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