Alleged Dangerous Dog Print E-mail
The Whitehaven News - Thursday, August 14, 1913

ALLEGED DANGEROUS DOG
AT WORKINGTON.
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 At the Workington Police Court, on Wednesday, William ELLIOTT (44), labourer, Workington, was charged with being the owner of a dangerous dog and not having it under proper control, at Workington, at ten a.m. on the 7th inst.
 
 Mrs. Mary Ann BALL, 28, Lawson-Street deposed on the date in question she let her dog out and it laid asleep at her door. Defendant’s dog seized it by the throat, and her dog died directly afterwards. A little boy had charge of the defendant’s dog. When she saw the defendant about it he had the dog with him. She had previously seen him with the dog, which was grey in colour and “smutty.”
 
 It transpired that defendant’s dog was a Bedlington Terrier.
 
 By the defendant: She had not seen the Bedlinton terrier playing with her dog at her husband’s boat.
 
 Mrs. Elizabeth THOMPSON, 26, Lawson-street, deposed whilst talking to Mrs. BALL she heard a noise and saw defendant’s dog had a hold of Mrs. BALL’s dog by the gullet. It was over in a minute, and Mrs. BALL took her dog into the house.
 
 Mrs. Catherine BLAIR, 47, Lawson-street, said that at 10.30 a.m. on the day in question she saw defendant’s dog seize Mrs. BALL’s dog by the throat.
 
 The Chairman: Did it shake the dog?
 
 Witness: Only a little. Mrs. BALL’s dog bled just a little. She tried to bring it round, but it died soon afterwards. In the presence of the defendant and Mrs. BALL she heard the former say his dog had never left him.
 
 The Clerk: Has it got the reputation of being a dangerous dog?
 
 Witness: I had not heard of it being dangerous.
 
 By the defendant: She never knew his dog to be vicious.
 
 By the Chairman: Mrs. BALL’s dog was five years old.
 
 P. C. KENNEDY said he saw the dead dog and it had no marks on it. It was a very fat dog. There was no blood about it.
 
 By the Clerk: He had often seen the dog, and there had been no complaints about it.
 
 Defendant: Didn’t I say to you that it might have died of hydrophobia - (laughter), - a fatty heart, or shock? - No.
 
 Thomas SKILLEN, 14 years old, living with his parents at 49, Southey-street, who was with defendant’s dog, said it never touched Mrs. BALL’s dog.
 
 Defendant submitted that the dog had never been dangerous.
 
 The Chairman said they were not satisfied that it was a vicious dog, and they dismissed the case.
 
 Defendant: Thank you, sir.
 
 
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