[ London Times ]
This newspaper, most correctly known simply as The Times, began publication in 1785 and continues to this day.
The edition of April 20, 1844, included a legal report about a case involving a Newfoundland and an injured horse.
The plaintiff claimed his horse had been injured when, driving their carriage near the defendant's house, they passed the defendant's son, who was walking with "a large Newfoundland dog," and as their carriage passed the dog, it
flew at the horse, seized him by the nose, bit him severely, dragged him to the ground, by which his knees were broken, and he received a deep gash in his shoulder, from which, and the bite on his nose, he bled profusely; and the declaration further alleged that the defendant kept the dog, knowing him to be both vicious and dangerous.
The plaintiff produced four witnesses confirming the above account, and produced as well another witness who said he had been attacked by the same Newfoundland some months earlier.
The defendant produced a witness who provided a different account:
...the dog happened to be playing in the middle of the road, and ran between the legs of the plaintiff's horse, who fell over him, and hurt him severely. . . . and in answer to the count in the declaration of his being a vicious and dangerous animal, several most respectable gentlemen, as well as the tradesmen of the neighbourhood and the servants of the house, were called, who all most positively swore that the dog was a most docile, gentle, and quiet animal — so much so, that children could do anything with him they liked.
The jury wasn't persuaded of the Newf's gentleness, apparently, for they found in favor of the plaintiff and awarded him damages of 12 pounds 13 shillings (about $1,700 US in 2020).