The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1922-07-11
INTERCEDES TO SAVE
LIFE OF ALIENS DOG
PRESIDENT HARDING WRITES
LETTER TO JUSTICE PEACE.
MAKES STRONG APPEAL.

LANSDALE, Pa.-"Dick," a hand
some dog OF St. Bernard and mastiff
parentage which was condemned to
death because his master was unnat-
uralized, has a new lease on life today,
having received an eleventh-hour re-
prieve from Magistrate Boorse. Re
Gently someone made a complaint
against Dick, citing the state law
against the ownership of dogs by
aliens. and he was ordered shot.
Dog lovers from near and far pro-
tested and at the hearing before Mag
istrate Boorse residents OF the Coun-
trysiGe crowded the court room to
plead for Dicks" life. AT the conclu-
sion of the hearing tears were in many
eyes. particularly in those of the two
little daughters of Jacob Silverman,
Dicks" owner. The magistrate ruled
that the dog be given to the custody
of the Society for the Prevention OF
Cruelty to Animals, which agreed to
take care OF the dog. Silverman was
fined SIS for having the dog in his pos
session.
PRESIDENTS PLEA.
Harrisburg, Pa.-The president of
the United States and Mrs. Harding,
became
the life Of a dog that was condemned
to death at Lansdale, Pa, because 1t
was owned by an alien, contrary to
Pennsylvania law. The dogs life had
been saved and the alien Jacob Silver
man, a farmer, fined SIS before the
presidential appeal reached Justice OF
the Peace Howard BOorse. The alien
has taken an appeal from the fine and
Dick" Silverman, part St. Bernard
and part mastiff, is in the care OF the
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty
to Animals.
The president in his appeal to the
governor said:
Il think you will have to count this
letter a personal one, rather than an
official communication. | write it at
the suggestion OF Mrs. Harding,
though | am happy to do so, because
of the appeal which has greatly stirred
her touches me no less forcibly.
Il enclose you the anonymous letter
and the newspaper clipping which
came to Mrs Harding, If the story is |
correct, a Russian immigrant has a
faithful dog which he loves and be-
cause his possession of the dog in some |
way conflicts with the state law the
devoted animal has been sentenced to
be shot.
Il have tried to put myself, loving
a good dog as | do, in the position OF
this poor immigrant, and | know the
perturbation that fills his soul. once
had to have a dog killed that q! greatly |
loved, and | recall it to this day as the
sorest trial of my life.
Il am not familiar with the law in
voked. According to the newspapers
an alien is not permitted to own a
dog Surely there must be some way
to comply with the spirit OF the law
and allow this poor foreigner to retain
his treasured animal friend
"If it came within my executive au-
thority | would gladly grant a pardon
to the convicted animal | suppose
there is good and ample reason for
statute which makes this dog an un-
lawful possession, but | have an abid-
ing faith that the man who loves his
dog to the extent that he will grieve
for him has in him the qualities which
will make him a loyal citizen.
Mrs. Harding and | are both pleas
ed to appeal for some form of clemen-
cy in this case, and hope this note is
not too late to enable us to add our
appeal in behalf of both Silverman and
his dog"
Gov. Sproul Immediately wired the
justice of the peace and also telegraph
ed the president assuring him that
"Dick" would be retrieved