Evening star., 1945-06-21
This and That
Bu Charles E. TraceWeH.

1t was the night of october %, 1859.
in Johnson County. Missouri. that
Charles Burden blew on his hunting
horn to bring his hound dogs home.
He had heard a shot in the valley,
and was fearful for the dogs, since a
neiehbor, Lon Hornsby, had threatened
marauoers in his sheep pens.
One by one the members of Burdens
pack came in.
All, that is, except Old Drum the
best of them all
The next morning the dog was found,
his head in the water. shot to death.
Mud was on his underside, showing that
he had been dragged.
There were some sorrel hairs.
1t was known fact that Hornsby
owned a sorrel mule, but he denied
having Shot Old Drum.
Burden sued for damages and Won
but Hornsby appealed the case
Feeling ran high throughout the
State Dogs meant a great deal to
everybody in rural communities.
By October, 1870, the trial had at
tracted the attention of the Nation
A noted law firm of Sedalia was re-
tdlneO DN BurQen.
The shooting of the Civil War had
ended, and people were willing now to
submit their arguments to the courts.
but the feeling ran high. Few murder
trials ever caused more excitement.
Everybody loved Old Drum, or some
dog which resembled him.
The attorney for the complainant rose
to make his closing argument He said:
"Gentlemen of the jury: The best
friend man has in this world may turn
against him and become his enemy.
His son or daughter that he has
reared with loving care may prove un-
grateful. Those who are nearest and
dearest to us, those whom We trust with
our happiness and our good name, may
become traitors to their faith
The money that a man has he may
lose. 1t flies away from him, perhaps
when he needs it most mans repu-
tation may be sacrificed in a moment
of i'll considered action
The people who are prone to fall on
their knees to do us honor when sue
cess is with us may be the first to
throw the stone of malice when failure
settles its cloud upon our heads.
The one absolutely unselfish friend
that man can have in this selfish
world, the one that never deserts him,
the one that never proves ungrateful
or treacherous. is his dog.
X X X
Gentlemen of the jury. mans dog
stands by him in prosperity and pow
erty, in health and in sickness. He will
sleep on the cold ground, where the
Wintry winds blow and the snow drives
fiercely, if only he may be near his
masters side.
He will kiss the hand that has no
food to offer; he will lick the wounds
and sores that come in encounter with
the roughness of the world.
He guards the sleep of his pauper
master as if he we're a prince
When all other friends desert he re-
mains.
When riches take wings and repu-
tation falls to pieces he is as constant
in his love as the sun is in its journey
through the heavens.
II fortune drives the master forth
an outcast in the world, friendless and
homeless, the faithful dog asks no
higher privilege than that of accom-
panying him to guard against danger,
to fight against his enemies, and when
the last scene of all comes, and death
takes the master in its embrace and his
body is laid away in the cold ground,
no matter If all other friends pursue
their way, there by his graveside will
the noble dog be found, his head be-
tween his paws, his eyes sad, but open
in alert watchfulness, faithful and true
even to DEATH"
So George G. Vest, who was to be-
come United States Senator delivered
his 'Eulogy on the Dog which is sec
ond only to Lincoln's Gettysburg ad-
dress in popularity. And he won the
case.