The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1899-09-05
All About q Dog.

Last July there was dog fight on Main
street, which waged tiercely for ten or fif-
teen minutes and was not stopped until
Joseph A. Ward, clerk in Barrington's
drug store, poured ammonia on the noses
of the dogs, thus compelling them to
loosen their hold and try to get breath.
One of the dogs belonged to Mrs Sam
uel Bodine, who lives out Garden street.
About three weeks ago she sent word to
Mr.. Ward that he had ruined the dog and
also injured clothing of Mrs. Bodine, who
was attempting to separate the dogs when
the ammonia was thrown Ward paid no
attention to the notice and suit was
brought.
Justice Laumaster was in charge and
the case was heard at the Court House on
Tuesday afternoon. A jury of 12 men
had been summoned
George NJ Hillman represented Mrs.
Bodine and Jerome B. Grigg appeared for
Ward. Plaintiffs case was that on the
evening of July IA she came down town
accompanied by her dog. When near
THE News office her son, who was
with her, stopped to read poster which
hung in the window. Just then Elwood
Stead came along, accompanied by his
dog This animal was of the same breed
as the other-fox terrier. 1t was not long
before the two had arranged for a first
class fight and they at once set to work.
A dog fight will draw a crowd when all
other means fail, and notwithstanding it
was about II o'clock at night, the crowd
was soon on hand. At first the efforts of
the dogs were enjoyed by the spectators,
but as the fight progressed matters began
to look serious and attempts were made to
separate the combatants. They were torn
loose once and Stead picked his dog up in
his arms, but the Bodine dog was not
through with his opponent and made a
leap catching the other in his teeth.
Then" said Stead, 4 dropped them
that they might have fair play"
About this time somebody called to
Ward to bring the ammonia bottle. He
did so and poured it on the, dogs. The
| fight was soon over Mrs. Bodine claimed
the ammonia went into the eyes of her
dog and that he had lost the sight of one
in consequence. She was trying to get
him away at the time and the ammonia
fell on her face and Dress getting into her
eyes to such an extent that she was not
able to work at her vocation as dressmaker
for several days. Her dress was ruined
In REPUTATION of this testimony it was
shown that Stead's dog received some of
the ammonia in his eyes, but an immediate
application Of sweet oil prevented any SER
ious consequences. Mr.. Ward also showed
several pieces of dress goods that had been
dipped In ammonia of the same strength
as that thrown on the dogs and there was
no perceptible difference in them. Mrs.
Bodine did not have the dress or the dog
in court.
In arguing the case Mr.. Grigg ignored
the evidence entirely. He claimed that
the dog became public nuisance the min
ute he engaged in the fight and that Mr.
Ward had right as a public citizen to
abate the nuisance. Mr.. Hillman argued
that the evidence showed that Mrs Bodine
had sustained damage for which Ward
should be made to pay. The jury retired
and took one ballot, returning in about ten
minutes with verdict of not guilty.