The daily morning journal and courier., 1901-06-25
OLD PRESLEY'S DOG.

An Unsalaried Member of the Force.
 Old Presley's death not long ago was
 not widely heralded in the press, yet
 among the few who knew him best the
 mourned. Old Presleys dog has disap-
 peared from view and it is believed
 that his demise must have occurred
 prior to that of his master.
 For many years Old Presley was em-
 ployed as a night watchman and spe-
 cial policeman on Pearl street, between Detroit street and Franklin avenue. He
 did his work faithfully and well
 through the icy blasts of winter and
 the sultry heat of summer, and was
 never missing fro minis post of duty.
 His dog, who was believed to be al-
 most as old as Presley himself, was always with him, and lent really valu-
 able assistance to his master.
 Old Presley's dog was of the big,
 black, Newfoundland variety, and
 seemed possessed of almost human in-
 telligence. Many West Siders of noe
 turnal habits have a long score of
 grudges against Old Presley's dog, and
 not few have sworn dire vengeance
 upon the officious beast. The fact that
 at the end of it all Old Presley's dog
 died In peace and obscurity is but an
 onther tribute to his discernment and
 intelligence.
 When Old Presley was making his
 rounds the dog was invariably to be iy,
 front of him. After midnight, when
 both Presley and the dog knew that all God fearing folk ought to be at home
 and in bed the sagacious canine was
 wont to begin his activity. In his position as advance guard to the main
 body, composed of Old Presley himself
 the dog considered it his duty to hold LID every chance pedestrian until the main body came up and either gathered
 in the pedestrian or signaled to the ad- vance guard to release the prisoner.
 The method employed by Old Pres ley's dog was as follows: When, dur ing the course of his perambulations he came across some belated Individual he would draw himself up to his great est possible size and place himself directly in front of the belated pedes- trian, gazing fixedly into his face, If the pedestrian made no effort to move the dog would simply stand and petrify him with this gaze until Old Presley came LID and made an inspection. If | however, the unwilling prisoner mad; | an attempt to pass on the dog would | also take a. step nearer, show his teetf and give utterance to terrifying anc | gutteral "whoof." Just one of these warnings was generally enough. but | the dog was ever ready for further ac- | tion if the necessity arose
 | As soon a. ( Id Presley came up neal enough to inspect the dogs prisoner and saw that he was not a law break CT or a suspicious person he would 1 strike the sidewalks two sharp raps with his club This signal was perfect i ly understood by the dag and he would | at once stand aside and allow his l prisoner to proceed on his way. If 1 however, no such signal was given, the l animal was certain to hold his prison l CT in safe keeping until Old Presley hao l either received a satisfactory explana- | tion or had placed the fellow under 1 arrest
 Old Presley and his dog had become an integral part of the night landscape ] i,7 this particular portion of the West | Side. They were both generally liked | but certain persons whose business ol l pleasure frequently called them to thi: 1 locality during the small hours of the l morning grew to have deep seated hostility toward the dog and meditatet ] dire vengeance. It was certainly gall ing to their pride and self-respect to b. repeatedly held up by this shaggy 1 guardian of the peace, who never made friends and who never recognized any I claim for immunity. The recent pass | ing of Presley and the dog left vo!C and their familiar forms will be missed | for a long time by those who hat | learned to know them,-Clevelan' l Plain Dealer.