BLUE DOG’S SAD STORY.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9442, 12 May 1909, Page 2

BLUE DOG’S SAD STORY.

FATAL RESULTS Oif AN

“OUTING.”

Much amusement was extracted by the High Court from a caaa tried before Mr Justice Darling and a common jury, in which Miss Winifred Hope, a lady of independent means, sued the District Messengers Company to recover £IOO as damages for the loss of a Yorkshire terrier dog, which she alleged had been killed by the negligence of one of defendants’ messengers. Defendants denied negligence. Mr Gill, £cr plaintiff, said that in April of last year his client was staying at the Waldorf Hotel, and had wish her a pet d- ;■ called Tiny. Is was a small Yorks .!re terrier, and its colour was light blue and tan. Plaintiis bad had the dog some three or four years, and she was greatly attache* to it. She was in the habit of employing one of the company s mes-* aeugars daily to take the dog cut for exercise. On April Bth last one of the company’s messengers called at the hotel and received the dog, which only weighed 3>£lb, with ies collar and lead. “Instead oj. going tor ajwalk with the dog, Jjthe messenger took it into defendant’s premises, which were next door to the hotel, and left it for a few minutes in the basement. The dog attempted to ascend the steep steps leading hem the basement to the ground floor, and when it had reached the seconder third step it fell, and broke its neck. The messenger earned the body of the dog back to the hotel, banded it to Miss Hope’s maid, and waited for payment. When he was asked whether he wanted to be paid for killing the dog he walked away. Plaintiff was in great grief, and the remains were taken down _ to Huntingdonshire and bur;pd in a cemetery where counsel understood it was the practice to bury pet dogs. Plaintiff gave £l3 for the &dog when it was a puppy, and she refused an offer of £BO for it. He (counsel) should call evidence to prove that dogs of this kind were sold for £SC, £6O, and £BO. Mr Justice Darling : What sort of dog did you say it was Mr Gill? Mr Gill: It was a toy blue and silver Yorkshire terrier. Mr Batten (for defendants): I think it must have been old silver at that price. (Laughter.) Continuing, counsel submitted that the messenger was guilty of negligence in leaving the dog loose in the basement, and that the company was liable for that negligence. Mr Thomas William Hancock, of Fairfield Road, Bow, stated that he was a dog breeder and exhibitor. He was at the Waldorf Hotel at the time the body of the dog was brought in by the messenger. It was a good specimen of its breed and a good colour. Witness, continuing, said ha had previously seen the dog in St. James’ Park. On that occasion he advised plaintiff to show the dog, which he considered was worth £BO or £IOO. She could not get another like it for £IOO. Mr "Batten: When you first saw the dog was your attention attracted by Miss Hope or the dog?— By the dog. You- were the person who undertook the melancholy duty of burying the dog?—l was. Where did you take it? —To the wilds of Huntingdonshire. What was the cost? —The grave cost 10s, and the railway fare was 13a. Mr Robert Samuel Fox, dog deaaler and expert in Yorkshire terriers, stated that when a breeder got the right sort of Yorkshire terrier it was worth something. Mr Justice Bailing: Just like some other families, Mr Gill. (Laughter.) Witness, continuing, said a good Yorkshire terrier, able to win at any Kennel Club show, would be worth anything from £7C to £IOO, and even more. Dreadnought was sold for *£l7s. Mr Justice Darling: We are going to have four more of them. (Laughter.) Witness, continuing, said a lady had refused £3OOO for a Pekinese. Mr Justice Darling: Would you say a person refused £BOOO for a dog of that kind? The Witness: No. That was a Pekinese, Mr Pierpont Morgan refused £SOOO for Champion Oheur. Mr Justice Darling: Is that a Chinese dog? Witness : Yes. Mr Justice Darling: They eat them, don’t they? (Laughter.) Mr Cecil S. Isaacs, described as an ornithological and canine expert, stated ||lat bis firm had had the privilege of supplying doga to nearly every crowned bead in Europe and all the nobility. His brother sold the dog in question to plaintiff for £lO or £l3. At that time the dog was 13 months old. The dog had a pedigree, which was given to plaintiff. Mr Batten said be had a letter in which plaintiff stated that she purchased the dog at a ridionously low price because the seller was hard up. Other evidence having been beard, the jury returned a verdict for plaintiff, and assessed the damages at £l3. Judgment accordingly.