When analyzing a story that has originally been published as a chap book, one has to look at two features. At first the story itself, the content and intended meaning has to be looked at. Secondly, the audience and the intended effect on their mood or behavior. "The Trial of an Ox for Killing a Man" is a good example of a morality story that uses tropes from fables to deliver a distinct message.
At first, the story seems to be quite light hearted and humorous. The dogs are described as thieves and untrustworthy and the general naming of the location as Quadruped Park have a humorous touch to it. However, the story quickly takes a more sinister turn, when the description of the events start. The killing itself is described as gruesome, while the treatment of the ox goes into very painful details. The audience, in the short poem at the start of the book, described as mainly younger adults and children, would have to imagine the pain the ox goes through on his journey. By the end, the story is written in a way that it is impossible to not feel for the poor ox.
At this point a closer look at the mentioned audience is necessary. The chap book market was especially important in rural areas, meaning that such stories would find their biggest audience among the children and youth of farmers and other rural professions. This group of society is the main providers of future rovers. While the story is interesting to read and has a fantastical charm, the moral of the story can be seen as an early animal rights campaign. The future of the farming industry is encouraged to consider their animals feelings more carefully.
"The Trial of an Ox for Killing a Man" is a wonderful example of the chap book genre, a mostly forgotten literary period of Britain. The story contains a easily identified moral and is written in a way that even less educated people (who can still read obviously) would understand and maybe absorb the meaning.
