The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-05-01
FOUR FOOTED CRIMINALS.
Dogs and Even Cats Have been
Trimmed 10 steal
From the New York Advertiser.

From the New York Advertiser.
one of the least commendable uses to
which an animal can be put is to train
it to become a thief Yet there are many
instances in evidence TO prove that, in
the hands of clever rogues, our four-foot-
ed friends are capable of being made the
accomplices of criminals and even active
co-operators in crime.
Sir Walter Scott tells of a sheepdog
which had been trained to steal sheep by
its master. Muridson and Millar were
sheep farmer and his shepherd, who, set
ting in the valley of the Tweed. COM
menced and carried on an extensive sys-
TEN of devastation on the hocks of their
neighbors. a dog belonging to Mllar was
so well trained that his master had only
TO show him during the day the parcel
of sheep which he desired to appropriate
and at night the animal went straight to
the pasture, where the flock grazed. and
drove off the quantity shown him by the
most out-of-the-way paths to Murdisons
farm, where the dishonest master and ser
want were in readiness to receive the
booty.
He gives a further instance in the case
of a little spaniel, which a friend of his
purchased from a dealer in specimens
Of the canine race When he entered
shop the new owner noticed that his lit
tie companion made il a rule TO follow at
some interval. and to estrange itself from
its master, so as to appear totally uncOn-
nected with him When he left the shop
II was the dog custom to remain be
hind till It could find an opportunity of
selzlng some little article of property,
which It Brought to its owner. The ami
NAL was with difficulty cured of this o5-
jeCtionable accomplishment.
Cats are known thieves, esDeciallv when
dainty morsel is in question. bur grim
akin as a trained accomplice in crime is
a rarer animal a lady recently missed
several small articles from the childrens
nursery, the window of which was fire.
quently left open. Half suspeoting thief,
she set watch, when a cat was observed
to stealthily enter the half-open window
and seize little wooden sock, which it
carried in its mouth to a neighboring
house. Finding the practice repeated on
several other occasions 1t became evil
dent that the animal was trained thief
but IL proved to difficult a matter to
bring the guilt home 10 its trainer.
There IS an amusing story Of high
wayman's horse in this capacity which
may not be out of place here law
yer, desiring to travel from London to
the north in the pre-railwav DAYS went
for the purpose, and was delighted to ge'
hold of a handsome specimen at nominal
sum. In an amiable frame of mind NJ
commenced his journey. BY the time he
had reached Finchley Common, then a
noted resort of robbers, he met a clerical
looking gentleman driving to town in a
one-horse Chaise. The road was solitary
and not another living creature in sight
when the lawyers horse astOnshed its
rider by executing a sudden maneuver by
means OF which he brought his hind-Quar-
tiers close to the chaise and so stopped il
In a moment proving the profession of his
former owner.
The astonished and frightened clergy
man. believing himself confronted by
highway man. and possessing no means
Of defense, a once produced his purse
The lawyer hastily apOlogized, and spur
ing the horse went hurriedly on mis- way
In a while, however, they met a stage
coach on the road, and again the animal
nv tod
ent reception awaited them this time for
blunder-buss was levelled from the
coach windows, and denunciations hurled
against the hapless lawyer. who narrowly
escaped with his life. This sort of thing
being repeated several times during the
day, the bewildered and terrified man of
the law was compelled to part with his
bargain for a mere song, and procure an
other animal in its stead.