Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 254, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 October 1914 — Dog Was Unable to Pick His Master in Court [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Dog Was Unable to Pick His Master in Court

NEW YORK. —Besides revolvers, empty pocketbooks, broken umbrellas, torn books, and many other articles “too numerous to mention” that are held by the property clerk at police headquarters awaiting claimants the office

has as one of the unclaimed “articles” a nice white bull terrier. The dog was claimed by two men, and Magistrate McQuade, sitting in police court, with Solomonlike wisdom determined to let the dog; decide for himself. But there was a hitch in the canine’s choosing, and the magistrate said that a dog that could not pick, his own master was worth much, so he sent the terrier to the property clerk. Henry R. Stevens, piano dealer,

was walking in Broadway at Forty-fourth street with a white bull terrier on a leash when Frank Maurata, automobile salesman, seized the animal and claimed him. Mr. Stevens caused his arrest, and both me/and the dog and Mrs. Maurata went to the police court. When the dog was released from a pen Mr. Maurata called him: “Here, Yank!” The dog leaped joyfully to him and seemed to have found a longlost friend. “Here, Jimmy!” cried Mr. Stevens, and the fickle animal instantly changed his affections and licked of the man who had called him. When Mrs. Maurata called him the dog bounded gleefully to her. Each claimant said he had purchased the animal, and Magistrate McQuade said: "I am unable to decide his ownership and will dismiss the complaint, against Maurata and send the dog to the property clerk to be held for an owner."