[ London Times ]
This newspaper, most correctly known simply as The Times, began publication in 1785 and continues to this day.
The edition of December 24, 1856, featured a story about a mysterious death, and a Newfoundland:
MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF A YOUNG LADY. — Great excitement has been caused in Banbury by the following painful circumstances: — Mr John Garland is a timber-merchant, occupying premises in the vicinity of the canal and railways stations, but residing at the opposite end of the town. On Friday last his two daughters, aged respectively 18 and 20, left their home for the purpose of taking an airing. Returning home earlier than they expected, the elder proposed they should go down to the timber-yard, and return with their father to dinner. When at the timber-yard they crossed the bridge leading to the railway, accompanied by their father's large Newfoundland dog, for the purpose of seeing the train pass, due at that time. At the station the elder sister had occasion to leave the younger with the dog. . . . Returning to the spot where she had left her sister a few minutes before, she was much surprised to find her gone. Looking around, and puzzled to know how her sister could have passed without her seeing her, she started for home. A short time after the dog returned besoddened with wet and dirt, and, the sister not returning, the parents began to grow uneasy. Inquiries were set on foot, with no result. Not a word could be heard of the missing young lady.
Two days later the young woman's body was found in the Cherwell river, "about a quarter of a mile from where she was last seen...." The cause of her death was not determined.