CRIMINAL DOGS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XIII, Issue XIII, 19 December 1892, Page 2

CRIMINAL DOGS.

When Bome days ago (says the London Standard of October 28) we narrated the exploit of a dog who stole an umbrella out of a lady's , hand in Kennington Park-road, the subsequent arrest of its proprietor for drunkenness in tho Walworth-road disolosine; seyen umbrellas in the cart which he drove, some sceptics expressed doubts I whether a dog could be guilty of aucb depraved and larcenouß conduct. But at the Lambeth Police Court the proprietor ef the animal j Frederick Hampton,- fishmonger, Oroydon, has now made his appearance-after having been fined tor his misbehaviour nnder the influence of drink—to answer a obarge of being in possession of stolen nmbrellaß, and the, dog itself was also in, Court, not in the dook, but in the corridors adjoining, where its occasional yelps and howls were interpreted sb a plea of" not guilty.'! Mr Boddington, solicitor's oleik, saw the mongrel steal Misb Louisa Squires' umbrellaj afterwards found the man I and the our in theonstody of the police, and informed them;of the Kennington Park-road affair.' Hence the presence of the man and the dog before Mr Biron, who, after hearing the evidence of Frederick Hampton'B arrest, remarked, "It' seems, then, that there was a sober and felonious dog and a drunken man, Why isn't the dog in the dook?" The animal gave two sharp yelps in reply, and tho case proceeded, Con:, stable .828 A, who made the arreet, said the accused claimed the umbrellas as hisowji; but his wife, who was i with bin), admitted that their pet bad taken one, ■ Mr Biron Msked whether anyone had ever beard of a dog being traimd to steal umbrellas, and Inspector Dunltavy, who bas au affection for tho race, sorrowfully informed that' the records of crime', showed that oven among; dogs there areblack 3heep." Hampton r was remanded for:a week on>bail.; In the interval the'animal will probably be sent' to tho-Dogs' Home, Bhown the lethal chamber, and duly admonished that unless be r«foim bio fiuti will totlisre.' , :