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New Zealand Tablet, Volume IV, Issue 191, 24 November 1876, Page 15

A priest convicted for teaching his dog- bad manners is one of those things that could not happen outside the domains of Princo Bismarck. The particulars of this case are funny indeed. On the Rhine there is a place called Brockscheid; at Broctscheid there is priest called Jox. Father Jox has got a dog of the poodle tvibe answering to the name of " Bello." Just about twelve months a»o i.e., on September 2, 1875, Father Jox took the youth of the village out for a day's excursion, and on this occasion, the indictment seis forth, he greatly amused the young folk by showing what his do°would do and would'nt do. Whenever he held out a piece of bread to the creature, saying, "It comes from Bismarck," or "It comes from Falk," Bello would turn his nose up at it and run away • whereas, if he told his canine friend, " It conies from the Pope," or "It comes from a good Catholic," the quadruped would take it with the most grateful demeanor. It was by no means proved that this accusation was true, and if any one could be punishable in the case, it was surely the dog and nob the priest. But the judges thought differently, and in their finding set forth that : " The action of the accused appears especially punishable, behiff committed from pure party motives by a man in his position and in presence of the boys, who doubtless hold him in respect, against two of the highest officers of State, who had done him no wron°- " Thereon they sentenced Father Jox to three months' imprisonment. Fortunalely, the convict is out of the way, and being one of those who have been " inhibited," he is not likely to return" merely to do his persecutors the pleasure of letting them seize hold of his person and put him in gaol. It should be remarked that Father Jox himself denies the truth of part of the evidence adduced against him,