The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-09-21
THE THREE-LEGGED DOG.
The Plea of the Miss From the South
BY West for Tax Exemption.

Before Police Justice Badger yes
terday came Miss Hilda Utman in the
matter of a three-legged dog. Natur-
ally, in the case of a canine so dis
figured, the tale that therefroln
hangs is the more conspicuous by
reason of crurial deprivation.
AS the circumstances fell out, n
fact, it was the absent leg. rather
than the distinguishing mark of eau
dial appendage, that gave the hazard
of Miss Hilda Utman its crucial turn.
When it is considered that the dog
is a three-legged bull and that ac-
cording to Miss Utman her ownership
extends no further than the charltd-
BILE bestowal of meals on an afflctcd
creature with a disposition oaffectloh-
ate towards herself, if soured through
misfortune to the rest of the world,
it will be seen that the case was one
calling for the highest order or judi
cial discretion.
And here is how it all came about:
Miss Utman lives in the section
which is South of West. In this Is
her habitat to be differentiated from
the Deep East in that While the latter
is populated by both black and white
so that it's complexion is like unto
pepper and salt suit emerging from
camphor for it's fifth winter, the
former is of a blackness With lew
spots Also there are more peInianelr.
male residents in the Utman purvleW
than in those of the Deep East, which
is almost wholly dominated by mem
bars of the oldeSt-if not SUN lne
most honorable-of all professions.
Miss Utman is black in accord with
her surroundings, the only spotted
thing about her being her dog -
Which, she says, is no dog OF hers,
hut of Bob Macklehenny who boards
at her house.
II was the dog that was the trouble.
he looks if. A massive bull with pro-
truding law. small, wicked pink eyes
shaded by a black patch, heavy neal
carried low and one hind leg missing
from the thigh. Lurching his way
about the streets there is yet discern
ible the power of the spring lnaC
hides in the wire-llke muscles ol t ~
three good legs. With regard TO the
dog it seems that the tax has nol
been paid and that, since he took ms
meals with Hilda he was supposed 10
he of her goods and chattelS so lnal
sba. was notified The tax not DelilS
Maid the woman was arrested under
the ordinance of the town ana raced
with a fine and costs. Ihere Was
evidence that the dog, though one OF
moro vicious by reason of his lnhrmlty
| in that he attempted to exact from
numerous waytaring men who crossed
his path penalty commensurate
with his own misfortune.
In fact. by reason Of his own IN
convenience, the three-legged pun
dog was partial to legs AT night he
was accustomed to roam the regions
of the West by South to the great ter
-, nd disbursement of those
who there abide. Since the dollar
tax had not been paid, the city took
notice of the decorations and Hilda
came I'D to explain. Said she with IN
dignation:
Dat haint no dorg Nv mine. He
b'longs ter Bob Macklehemiy. Nawsir,
l haint got muffin ter do wifi i'm
"Who is Bob?
"You-alls knows Bob-he de man
Whut drives de OK. Bob Mackelhenny
Yassir-He de man whut dat dar dorg
b Iongs to. L haint got muffin ter do
wifi 'im!"
Fob Macklehenny, an ancient citizen
of color WHO, drives a bull cart and
l.peddles @arpundsthe market, was 5eH-
amined. He cast an appfehensive
glance, first at EIilda, then at the
Court. and made answer:
Gle amt no dawg er mine!" quoth
| he with conviction.
"Did YOU get notice TO pay. dog
taxi" Hilda was asked.
She Strengthened up with dignlifed
resentment:
"Yassir. 7 wuz distinguished wifi er
nouncement an L done sent dis here
man Bob up town to see crbout hit an
he done come back an tell me dat
de dorg wuz tax-free count er de
manufacture NV he laig!"
'"rax free," almost shouted the
court "Why?"
"Kase he doant hab but three laigs
he say dey doant tax no dorgs cep-
pen dey's got dere TO feetsl''
In the maze of this testimony. the
Court felt Solomonic obligations and
resorted to diplomacy:
You Danish the dog was the YER
dict, land I'll suspend judgment"
"Whuts date" asked Hilda.
Send him out of town and keep
him out. If he comes back, I'll revive
this case and it will cost you 1925"
Hilda reflected for moment:
"Dere haint goiu ter be no case
survived agin me-" uuoth she. "kase
he haint er goin' ter come back frum
whar l SEN i'm! | done tol you he
Bob Macklehenny's dorg, but L haint
er goin' ter survive no case. I'll SEN
im'-her teeth. snapped