TROUBLE OVER DOG

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 149, 26 June 1931, Page 10

TROUBLE OVER DOG

FRAUD ON OWNER. WOMEN SHARE A REWARD. DESIRE TO “TEACH LESSON.” When Mrs Mabel Harvey, canine nurse, saw a fox terrier, valued at £lO, belonging to Victor Ernest Larcomb, of Karori, Wellington, chained up, and “looking miserable,” she “just, saw red,” and took the dog to her hospital, to “teach its owner a lesson.” This was the defence she raised in the Police Court, in Wellington last week wheu, with Mrs Martha Stevenson, shb was charged with obtaining £2 from Air Larcomb by false pretences. The money represented a reward paid for the return of the dog. Mrs Harvey was fined £5, and Mrs Stevenson, who told the. detectives she had found the dog, was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if called upon within 12 months. Sub-Inspector Ward said that Mr Larcomb went out, leaving the dog chained up. When he returned home in the evening the dog was missing. Mr Larcomb advertised a reward for the recovery of the dog. As no reply was received ho advertised again. This time he received a telephone message from Mrs Harvey saying that the dog was at her dispensary. lie went round aud was told by Mrs Harvey that a Mrs Stevenson, a neighbour, had found the animal near the Basin Reserve.

The dog was in a rough state, and Mr Larcomb left it to be cleaned, said the sub-inspector. He paid £2 to Mrs Stevenson as a reward. Not altogether satisfied about the affair, Mr Larcomb called upon Mrs Harvey the following day. He was accompanied by a constable. Mrs Harvey admitted she had shared the reward with Mrs Stevenson. Some days later the police were informed that a taxi-driver had driven a woman and a dog from Mr Larcomb’s home at Karori to Mrs Harvey’s place in Newtou.

When questioned about this, Mrs Hur vey said it was true she had removed the dog, said the sub-inspector. She said she was a member of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, adding that she had heard that, the dog was not being treated properly, and as its previous owner had asked her to “keep an eye on it,” she took it away to teach Mr Larcomb a lesson. Mrs Stevenson, when again interviewed by detectives, admitted she bad not found the dog. Mrs Harvey gave evidence that she had tended the dog before the Larcombs bought it. She had heard that its new owners were “knocking it about,” and she took it home to teach them a lesson.

A clergyman gave evidence that Mrs Harvey was a woman of good character.

“Just for what reason the defendant took the dog is not altogether clear,” said the magistrate. “I find it difficult to think that her sole reason was that she wanted to teach the Larcombs a lesson. One might have expected her to have taken an officer with her if that were her reason. However, whatever the purpose, the fact that she carried out fraud with the other defendant is abundantly clear. It seems to me that an offence has been established against both defendants.” Mrs Stevenson was ordered to repay the £2 to Mr Larcomb.