The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1901-06-29
A RARE DOC CASE.
He Has Diamond Back and Blue spots
Will 90 TO Missouri

Major r. b. Bristow lives at Monroe
City. Mo. lie was a gallant officer III
the Confederate Army and went West
about thirty years ago and settled IN
Missouri. where he has been engaged III
the practice of law and has occupied the
position of circuit Judge and other OF
fees. Several weeks ago he and his Wlle
came To Virginia TO visit his relatives,
the Bristows, OF Middlesex, Mrst ii. Il.
Chesley, of Stafford, and relatives III
Orange. Before leaving home he was re-
uuested by a friend to send him Nir-
ginia bloodhound. While in MiddleseN he
endured about such "A dog and was told
that Mr.. NJ NJ Bray, OF the county, had
some very fine hounds and he obtained
from him female dog and brought 1t
by steamer to this city last week, intend
inc to send it West by express to his
friend On arrival here the dog was put
i'm a wagon to be sent to the store O!
Magrath Il Chesley TO he boxed Tor ship
ment. Mr. Richard a. Wheeler, oil tins
city. saw its head protruding from the
rear of the wagon and thought he recog-
nized it IA dog which was stolen rom
him about three years ago when he was
n soldier in the Spanish American war.
He demanded that the dog be given him,
which WINS refused 10y Major l}ristOw and
n warrant was issued by Mayor W His
for the recovery of hedOg. This aroused
the ire of the major and he determined 10
fight the ease. The major and Wheeler
with the dog were brought before Mayor
Willis. The major asked time To bring
M from Middlesex the gentleman from
whom he obtained the dog and also that
bond be required of each party IN the sum
of $40 To guarantee the expense OF the
case. and the mayor named Thursday ~
the day of trial. Early Thursday morn
ing Mr.. NJ. NJ. Bray, the gentleman who
gave the dog to Major Bristow, and Mr.
l.. VI. Bray, who bred the dog, arrived
here by steamer. The case was called mt
10 O'Clock. with Mayor Willis and Magis
trate Quinn ON the bench. Hon. \. l.
Embrey WAS counsel for Wheeler and Mr.
b. p. Willis for Major BristOw, who also
took part in the case. The Mayors OIL
fee could not accommodate the crowd
which gathered To hear the case. The
bringing,the dog into court wasdemanded
by Mr. Embrey. This was combatted by
Attorney Willis ON the grounds that the
plaintiff should describe the dog and on
him devolved the burden OF proOfo own
ership. The court decided that the dog
should be brought into court, and that
the witnesses should all leave the court
room and be examined separately, 80 the
Others should not hear the testimony.
Ii was a very amusing sight when the
dog was brought into the courtroom IN
n bag. the crowd on the sidewalks trying
To get passing glimpse of him.
Wheeler had about n dozen witnesses
composed Of gentlemen who indulge III
hunting, are lovers of dogs and consider
cd experts in the business. They all ties
titled that they recognized the dog by
the diamond shaped spot on his back
and blue marks back of his front legs.
that they had hunted with the dog and
that he was four years old. Then the
defense put Mr. John X. Harris on the
stand and he testified that the dog was
less than two years old Then MIR. NJ. NJ.
Rrav was called and he said the dog was
one of a pair which had been given him
bv his brother. that il was fourteen
months old. being born about April LIST,
1900. Mr.. l.. NJ Bray then testified that
the dog was one of seven puppies born
on April LIST. 1900, that he owned the
father and mother of the dog and that
the dog had never been out of Middlesex
until il was brought away by Major
Bristow. Then Messrs Embrey and Viii
lis made speeches in behalioi their clients.
During the progress OF the case the
court sat with grave solemnity and
every attempt mt merriment "a the funny
points were brought out was promptly
suppressed. The court considered the
case for a short time and then dismissed
the warrant and returned the dog 10
Major Bristow. The costs amounted to
S2i.7J which Wheeler has To pay.
Major BristOw was seen 10y me J. RE
LAxcF.representative and he said This
il the first dog case was ever interested
in. and it will be the last. II had known
this was to be the result OF getting the
dog it should have stayed in Middlesex.
/ did not intend to come back to Virginia
and carry away dog that had been
stolen.
Major Bristow left for Stafford yester-
day where he is the guest OF Treasurer n.
6 Chesey. lie will return to Missouri IN
a few days.