CLAIM FOR DAMAGES.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 112, 12 May 1908, Page 8

CLAIM FOR DAMAGES.

THE BITE OF A DOG.

The sum of fifty pounds damages for the bite of a dog was claimed by Harry I White, a boy of ten, through his best j friend, his father, Henry White, from Robert William Patenson, hotelkeeper, this morning. The case was heard by Dr. M'Arthur, S.M. The boy, who appeared rather delicate, stated that on the 4th April, a Saturday, he was going round on a milkcart. When the milkman called at Mr. Paterson's house the boy went in with the milk. In the passage he saw a dog, a bull terrier, lying on the mat. The dog growled. The boy delivered the milk to Mr. Paterson himself at the door. On leaving the boy heard a noise behind him, and then the dog knocked him against the wall, afterwards seizing him by the lip, and hanging on until Mr. Paterson came to the rescue. Mrs. Paterson attended to the boy, and after the doctor had treated him, he was sent away with a sovereign by Mr. Paterson. Evidence was given by Dr. Giliner that the boy would be permanently disfigured by the scar. Otherwise he did not think the damage was serious. Dr. (jibb gave similar evidence as to disfigurement, holding, however, that the boy would suffer severely from nervous shock. Henry White, the boy's father, declared that he had told Mr. Paterson if he would only destroy the dog, there would be no further trouble, but Mr. Paterson refused. The boy had not slept at nights since and was ailing now. The witness was afraid of hydrophobia. Mr Cracroft Wilson submitted, on behalf of Mr. Paterson, that the dog was far too valuable to b& destroyed, being worth at least £200. His Worship intimated that tho dog might be ordered to be destroyed, it the court held it to be necessary. Robert William Paterson stated that the dog was walking behind the boy when he brought the milk to the house. It was the noise made by the can as the boy was returning that made tho dog spring at him. Witness gave the boy a sovereign, telling him that it was something to buy lollies with. The dog was not ferocious at all. The witness's little boy. five years old, used to play with it like a kitten. The boy would take a piece of meat out of the dog's mouth Mr. Herdman : A discriminating dog ! He took a piece of meat out of the other boy's mouth. The witness stated that he had given tho dog away to a man called Baker, whom he had given £5 tor keeping it. Mr. Baker took it round to Mrs. Levy, whom the witness had heard it had frightened. He had never said that if a dog bit his child, as his dog had bitten Mr. vVhite's child, he would knock its brains out. The dog went about with a muzzl& sometimes. His Worship said that if a person had a dog like the one in question, he must accept his responsibilities. Judgment would be for the plaintiff for £20, and costs £4 16s.