A CANINE COMEDY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 3802, 12 April 1913, Page 2

A CANINE COMEDY.

•■BANGS" Oil • CORDON" ? AMUSING (SCENE IN COURT. r -BT TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL COKRESPOXDENTI A. FINLAND, April 11. An obliging dog somewhat of a Gilbert iaa description, was the cause of proceedings yesterday afternoon at the S.AI. Court in the action brought by Marion Nicholson to recover possession <;i a Gordon setter dog claimed by Arthur Leonard. The whole pftin-t was the identity of the dog, and to try and solve that point occupied the Court the whole of the afternoon. Mr C. C. Kettle was on the Bench. Mr Mulgan appeared for the plaintiff and Mr Lund on for the defence. As the case- unravelled itself it appeared that about seven witnesses on each side were prepared to swear the dog was ••Bangs’’ reared by Mr Mears and the property of the plaiutilf, or ■‘Gordon’’, roared bv someone oLc. and belonging tr> the defendant. The plaintiff was emphatic as to the dog being his property am! lie valued the animal at Bio. In answer to Air Lundon he said the dog was a purc-bred Gordon setter according to tlu> brooder. He had an Irish setter once, but it died of distemoer.

Air Lundon : A noruliarit-.v or the race, perhaps? Where did the dog come from r Plaintiff: From Wailii. Ah* Lundon: From Wailii ! Is there any wonder there is trouble about the dog. Mr James Alears stated that he bred the deg at Wailii and his brother-m----law. Air lfattirick, gave it to plaintiff. After it was taken from plaintiff’s brother in* went and bad a look at it in defendant's yard on bis own book. He positively identified the dog. Afr Lundon said he would not try and upset a witness from AVahii. They were expert witnesses—the AVailii people. Mr Kettle <aid : •'•Bring forth the dog.’’ All the witnesses were cancel into Court and seated, being cautioned not to do anything to attract the dog’s attention. Then bis Worship instructed the Court orderly to bring the dog in and turn it loose in the Hall of Justice.

A most amusing scene followed. The dog rail round tin* room oxcitod.y. carefully watched by about .‘lO people. As it, did not single anyone out for special favor.'His Worship said: "Call him. Airs Nicholson.” At cnee the lady said •'•Bangs, Bangs’* and the dog rushed up to her and tried to climb all over her. Then someone on the defendant’s side called •'Gordon. Gordon,” with equally flattering results. Tin* dog answered indiscriminately to either name, and rushed joyously to all who called out, even going on the bench when called by the Alagist rate. The carefully prepared test thus failed.

Experts then examined the dog for particular marks, and Air Alears. acting on instructions, went to the further end of the Court, right- away from tli»> crowd. His cry of •'Bangs” brought the dog to him with a hound. AD - Leonard went to the other end and called ‘'Gordon” and to him also thi.it übiquitous dog ran. At length the Alagistrate asked “where are the white hairs you identify him bv?”

Mr Moores pointed to them and remarked : 1 said grey, not'white. >f you look at- your own hair. sir. you will see t-he-v are of like color. Mr London then called one witness, who. without going into the box, informed His Worship that- the dog was horn at his father's place, lit'mas present and saw his father make. a small v on the ear of each of tho litter. Then followed another examination and the v. was found as stated. Mr Monies remarked: “That v. is not two months old. Had it been done when a. pup it would he covered now with hair. lam of opinion that has been done since the defendants took possession of the dog. His Worship hasn't vet made up his mind what- the dog's deal name is.