DOG BITES POLICEMAN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 February 1940, Page 4

DOG BITES POLICEMAN

INCIDENT IN QUEEN STREET. OWNER APPEARS IN COURT. In Queen Street on Wednesday night a black collie owned by a visitor to Masterton from Titirangi jumped from a parked car and sank its teeth into the leg of Constable R. L. S. Hollis, who was passing on his beat. The owner of the dog, Mabel Violet Baverstock of Titirangi, appeared in Court yesterday afternoon before Messrs L. J. Taylor and W. H. Saunders, J’s.P., charged with being the owner of a dangerous dog, not kept under proper control. She pleaded not guilty and the Bench ordered that in future the dog should be either confined to the car or the company of the owner. Constable Hollis said the dog bit him as he was passing a parked car near the Empire Hotel, at about 9.50 on Wednesday night. The Borough Poundkeeper, Mr J. Henderson, was telephoned and Constable Hollis waited at the bottom of the street out of the dog’s reach. Constable Hollis showed the Bench the wound in his leg, a full-mouthed bite below the calf. Mabel Baverstock: “Were you not passing the car very quietly and wearing soft-soled shoes?” Constable Hollis: “I am 14 stone and wear size ten boots.” The poundkeeper (Mr Henderson) said he was within ten yards of- the ear .when the dog came towards him snarling. The woman refused to give him her name, so he took the number of the car. Mabel Baverstock said she had travelled in all parts of the country and her car had attracted crowds everywhere, because of the petrol-saving apparatus with which it was fitted. The dog had always been in contact with strangers, but had never been inclined to bite. She said she had bought the dog from the Tailwaggers Club about six years ago. He had saved the life of a man near Rotorua and had been recommended for a medal. She offered to send the dog to a farm in the King Country if the Court decided that he was dangerous. The dog was brought into Court and passed Constable Hollis without showing signs of recognition. Senior-Sergeant G. A. Doggett, who conducted the police case, said the dog was no doubt over-attentive to its owner. Mr Saunders said the Bench must accept the constable's evidence. He ordered the dog to be kept in the car or on a leash. The Clerk of,Court explained that if another complaint were received in any part of New Zealand, the dog could be destroyed by any constable without the decision of a Court.