The Exeter Flying Post for 8th April 1841 reported how, at the Guildhall in Exeter a master-butcher, Mr. Slocombe sought damages for assault from a butcher's assistant called Lang. The assault had occured at the slaughter house. Mr Slocombe was leading two calves to their doom and Lang, who was butchering a pig, was blocking his way.
Lang, "not removing when requested to do so, Mr. Slocombe capsized chuggy and the whole concern. Enraged at which Lang struck and abused him.
"William Palmer, a witness, said, 'I saw Lang strike Mr. Slocombe twice.' On which Lang rejoined, 'I'll bring a witness to prove you were out of sight when I did strike him.' - This admission, of course, put the assault out of all question; and Mr. George Manning, and Mr James Spark, who were called on the part of Lang, could only speak to mitigatory circumstances. These, however, so operated that Lang was fined 1s. only, and expenses, making 4s. in all."
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I am fascinated how scrupulously The Post, here and in general, finds the epiphet 'Mr.' for 'respectable' citizens like this master-butcher, and omits it for base mechanics like the not-very-bright butcher's assistant, Lang.
Clearly the readers of the newspaper were expected to recognise this pig under the name 'chuggy'. I have as yet found no other chuggies.
Chuggypig or chuffypig is a south--west dialect name for the wood-louse and wood-lice look uncannily like pigs if you look them in the snout. Of the eighty or so 'country' names for woodlice many have a piggy connection.
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