The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1900-05-09
HETRAlNED DOG


town of about couple Of thousand in
habitants. and friend Of my own age
were fond Of going to pool in the creek
near by early In the morning to have
swim. One day just about daybreak we
were strollng along the side Of the creek
when there was stir in the brush, and
the next moment big black dog sprang
out crossed our path and plunged into
the water. In less than half minute
tall, gaunt man came crashing through
the scrub, with a gun In his hand and
blood in his eye. lie halted on the edge
OF the creek, raised his gun and fired at
the dog, which had almost reached the
other side. The shot was failure, for
the dog bounded up the bank, shook him
self and disappeared.
'The gol darned thing" cried the man,
resting his gun on the ground and shak-
ing his fist toward the spot where the
dog had vanished Then he turned his
eyes toward us and took stock of us.
"For month";" he said, 'Ive been
missin, most of mornin, one plump
chicken after another and couldn't for
the life of me make it out Ye see, jest
about daylight | turn the chickens out to
feed around. Well, in month six of
'em have gonc--that's at the rate of a
chicken and a half a weck-and always
the plumpcst of the lot. AT last deter
mined TO keep n good watch. so tins
mornn, soon's | let 'cm out, l watched,
with a gun. and caught that dog runnin
off with chicken in his jaws. Now Pm
goin right away to see Squire Rigney.
He's been a-losin his chickens the same
way, but he would have it it was hawks"
The man disappeared in the bush. We
loungcd along by the creek, laughing
over the incident. When we reached the
pool, we found the water low. so we
went on a little farther toward the river.
We came to ford, the cart ruts disclos-
ing the fact. CHANGING along the road
way through the brush on the other side,
We saw the dog come sneaking out OF
cover. We lay low, and the beast coolly
crossed the ford. A negro came out Of
the scrub and joined the dog. The negro
carried canvas sack, at which the dog
every once and again shifted. We struck
into the brush and intercepted the negro.
The dog shrunk into a hiding place.
"Mawnn, sah," the negro said, taking
of his cap and making humble gri-
mace.
what have yon in that bag?" I asked
in severe tone.
bag, sahT' he said. "Oh, sab, on'y
a little O. sumfn for nah mssus, sah.'
"Thcrc's little something alive inside,
for see it moving | said.
With that the man dropped the bag
and dashed into the bush, followed by
the hound. In the bag we found fine
fat chicken, with the SLAYER of the dog
on its back, where the beast had grabbed
il. After our swim we returned, and
when we reached the spot where the dog
first appeared we entered the scrub and
pushed forward, expecting to find the
louise Of the owner Of the chicken at no
great distance. We hadn't gone more
than 800 yards when We came upon the
man, lying on his back, bleeding in the
breast and unconscious. We hurried
away and in few minutes reached Il
well kept homestead. with evidences of
thrift and prosperity around it. 10
shorten the story. this was the mans
home, and we got n door, returned TO the
wounded man and bore him to the house.
His wife and children were distracted,
as the doctor who was summoned said
that the IMAM couldn't live.
At the inquest ! and my friend were
present and told ali You have heard,
though We rrcountcd the facts with more
detail and circumstance.
1t was clear that the man had not ac-
cidcntally shot himself, for his was a
single bnrrplcd shotgun, whereas the
wound IN The mans breast was made by
lcadrn bullet of large calbcr, as was
shown when it was extracted. The ne
gro was easily traced. lie lived with his
wife in Il hut near the bank of the river.
1t was not known that he owned dog,
bat il was found that the dog which fig
ured as the chicken thief was owned by
the man for whom the negro worked and
that it was always with the negro except
when he drove it away. There was no
doubt that the man had trained the beast
! to steal chickens and to bring them alive
| to him. There was nothing whatever ia
connect the negro with the killing of
James IIinncy-that, | remember, was
the mans namc-and the mystery Of his
taking off was undiscovered for some
| years
One day | received message from
Squire Rgncy's wife saying that he was
dying aud wanted To. make will.
went to his home and drew up the instru
| mcut, by which he left onc-half of his
| property to the widow of James Finncy
finished writing the will, and just Al
the time the doctor and nephew of hl'
drove to the house. 1t was very oppor
tune, for | was thus enabled to see tina
the will was duly executed. | was nbou
| ia kpuvr whom thr squire n0tOncu me L