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, Borth Visitor and a Dog.…

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Borth Visitor and a Dog. SINGULAR STORY. At the Aberystwyth Police Station on 1 Thursday afternoon, \V Oliver Taylor, 3 Gas street, Newtown, appeared to answer a charge preferred against him by Supt, Richard Jones of having kept a dangerous dog, which was not under proper control at Borth on August 16th. The magistrates present were Mr Griffith Jones (presiding), and Mr David Howell. Supt. Jones conducted the case for the pro- secution Mr Hugh Hughes appeared for the defendant. On the application of Supt. Jones, witnesses on both sides were ordered out of court. The first witness called was Miss Elizabeth Shaw, who said she was now staying at Borth. Shortly after twelve o'clock on Tuesday, the 16th inst, she was on the beach where she noticed at the edge of the water a black faced terrier dog with a white body. There were also..two other dogs. She had a collie dog which was taken into the water by some of her party. The other dogs went away but came back again. The black faced dog jumped up and bit her in front of the breast and then on the arm and shoulders. Five times the dog bit her and she had the marks that day. She had to be medically attended by Dr. Best, of Birmingham. She was quite positive as to the dog. Her mistress, Miss Allan, came up and tried to get the dog away, which she succeeded in doing. Then a gentleman of the name of Dutton came on the scene. Cross-examined by Mr Hughes: I threw no stones into the water. My dog barked and I think it attracted the other three dogs. I was very much alarmed. There are a good many fox terriers at Borth at this time of the season and they are all very much alike. I don't think the dog was playing at all it was very savage, I did take particular notice of the dog but not of the marking as I was almost exhausted. Mr Griffith Jones Had you seen the dog on the beach before?—Yes, sir. I Is the dog here to-day ? I Mr Hughes I can produce it if it's wanted. Mr Jones Did yon do anything to excite the dog?—No, sir. Threw nothing into the water ?—No, sir. Is the Doctor here to-day? Supt. Jones No, sir; the marks are quite plain to-day. They have been made by a very savage dog. Miss Marian Catherine Allan, of Dudley, said she was on a visit to Borth and that Miss Shaw was in her service. She was on the beach—it would be after twelve o'clock—when she heard a cry. She saw a dog jump at her servant, who was a good distance from her. She ran to her assistance and kicked one dog away. One dog, a white smooth bodied terrier, with a black patch on its face, was still jump- ing at her servant. Witness thought the dog was going to jump at her at the time. Mr Dutton came along and the dogs were sent away. It was only one dog that jumped at Miss Shaw. Mr Taylor would not let her see the dog again. Mr Griffith Jones Had you seen the dog before ?—No, sir. Have you seen it since ?—No, sir. Do you think you could identify it ?—It's a good time since. Mr Taylor would not show it me before. Mr Charles Dutton, of South Croydon, said that as going for a bathe on the day in question he heard some dogs barking and cries of "Help." He ran to the water's edge, where the cries came from, and there saw three terrier dogs. He threw a stone to frighten them away. One was pointed out to him it was a perfectly white dog with a black face and lame on the hind left leg. He fixed his attention on that dog so that he could know it again. He saw the dog on the following day on the road and he followed it. He noticed that the dog occasionally returned to a lady, and he asked her if the dog belonged to her and she replied that it was her husband's. He saw Mr Taylor on the following morning, and he asked him what he was going to do in the matter that he thought it was his duty to see that the dog was destroyed or kept under proper control, Mr Taylor replied that unless it could be proved he would not agree to the dog being destroyed. In cross-examination witness said he did not see the dog attack the lady. He could not agree that fox terriers were similar, but he was not a dog expert. He could identify the dog. P.O. Richard Griffiths, Borth, said he had a conversation with Mr Taylor regarding the dog, when he told Mr Taylor that his dog had been recognised as the one that had bitten a lady on the beach. Mr Taylor said that be was very sorry and that he would go and see them on the following day and that if he bad proof he would destroy the dog at once. On Thursday morning witness asked Mr Taylor if he would accompany him to see Mr Dutton, when he replied that he would. He asked him if he would bring the dog and he replied No, what for." Mr Dutton told Mr Taylor that he recognised the dog as the one he had driven away, and Mr Taylor said again that if he was satisfied he would kill him at once. Cross-examined I did not find the dog to be a dangerous one. There were hundreds of fox terriers at Borth this summer—the place was swarming with them-and the marking was similar. Mr Hughes I believe someone was bitten last Sunday?—Yes, and after that. And by a fox terrier after Mr Taylor had gone away ?—Yes. Mr Griffith Jones We must see the dog sometime or other. Mr Hughes then addressed the Bench. Mr Taylor, he said, was the manager of the Gas Works at Newtown, and he left Borth last Saturday. It was common knowledge that he was leaving, and he (Mr Hughes) thought it was rather hard that he should be put to the extra expense of bringing all the witnesses down after they had all left. It all commenced in a bit of play. Mr Hughes laid stress on the similarity of fox terriers, and said that there was not the slightest ground for suggesting that the dog had-a liking for that sort of thing. He contended that the dog was not a dangerous one in the meaning of the statute if its identity was maintained. Mr Jones I think we better hear your evidence, Mr Haghes. Defendant was then called. He said he had been staying at Borth for a fortnight. On that day he was at Borth and he went about ten o'clock to Minfor, where his brother was stay- ing, They pitched a tent on the beach and afterwards played cricket for about an bour- the dog being with them all that time. They ceased playing cricket about 11 o'clock. He afterwards sat down on the shingle with his wife and did not move therefrom until after 12 o'clock. The dog was never out of his sight, being in the tent most of the time playing with his children. There was a great similarity in fox terriers, and he had seen a dog at Borth very similar to his own. Supt. Jones Did you keep your eye on the dog during the whole time you were playing cricket ? Witness Certainly not. My dog wasn't away from me more than a few yards during the whole morning. The dog sticks to me, and when I am abont it will not follow anybody else. Snpt. Jones Were there any other cogs on the beach that morning?—Yes, dozens; the place was swarming with them. I kfpt my observation on the dog as a friend of mine had lost a terrier dog at Borth. Mr Garbutt Edwards, a clerk at the County Education Offices, Newtown, also gave evidence. He was with Mr and Mrs Taylor on that particular morning at the back of Minfor. A young lady made a complaint of the dog having bitten a lady and witness replied that the dog had not been from them. Mr John H. Andrews, Bryngoleu, Newtown, said he had seen a dog near the golf links at Borth which was absolutely similar to that of Mr Taylor's. Mr Griffith Jones The dog you say is here at what period are you going to produce it ? Mr Hughes Once you give a dog a bad name it always sticks to him that's the old adage. Mr Jones If you don't produce the dog we are bound to draw an inference, and possibly against you. Mr Hughes The dog was to be seen about the village-- Supt. Jones The dog was not to be seen after Thursday, Evidence having been given by Mr Owen Norman Taylor, son of the defendant, the Defendant was recalled, when he said that he had never seen his dog hop about on three legs, Mrs Taylor and Mr Cecil T. M. Taylor, clerk to the Newtown Guardians, also gave evidence, the latter saying the dog was quite quiet and played with his children many a score of times. He had seen a similar dog on the previous Sunday evening at Borth. Mr Hughes With regard to the production of the dog for identity, the usual course is to place ttie dog as in the case of a prisoner amongst a number of other dogs. I am quite prepared to produce the dog, but I should prefer to produce the dog to-morrow, and in the meantime I could get half-a-dozen other dogs, Mr Griffith Jones Can't you do that in half-an-hour if we adjourn ? Supt. Jones They are not so plentiful here. After a conversation with his client, Mr Hughes stated that he had sent for the dog. The dog was subsequently brought into Court, and on being asked if that was the dog Miss Shaw said I don't think that's the one." Miss Allan I thought it had a little more black. Mr Dutton That's the dog. Miss Shaw I was too exhausted to look at it. The Court was then cleared, and on the public being re-admitted the Chairman said they had given the best consideration to the case and had considered it from all points. They were not greatly impressed with the evidence for the defence, as one could not keep an eye upon a dog for two hours. The produc- tion of the dog had made out the case for the defendant, though Mr Hughes seemed to fear it. They all knew that there were a great many fox terriers with marks the same as that particular dog, and they also knew of owners mistaking other dogs for their own. He was inclined to accept the evidence of Mr Dutton. but they had come to the conclusion that they could not with safety convict and therefore the case would be dismissed. The hearing of the case lasted three hours.

ABERYSTWYTH GUARDIANS.,

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