[ London Times ]
This newspaper, most correctly known simply as The Times, began publication in 1785 and continues to this day.
The December 13, 1824 edition of The Times carried a notice about a recent court case involving a Newfoundland dog:
The plaintiff, who is a tailor, went to the pond opposite the Crescent, in the New Kent-road, and was there sending in a large Newfoundlad dog to swim. A neighbor of defendant's came out and remonstrated with the plaintiff, and some angry words arose between them. The defendant afterwards came out, and walking with his neighbor, when the plaintiff came up, and made some remark, on which defendant attacked him, knocked him down, and kicked him several times while on the ground. He had suffered considerable inconvenience from the injury. These were the leading facts of the case, as they were proved by two or three witnesses who saw the transaction. It also appeared, that the pond into which the plaintiff was sending his dog was private property, and that he was not authorized to use it.
The fact the pond was private property did not sway the jury, who found in favor of the Newf-owning, beaten-up tailor, awarding him 10£, a bit over $1,000 US in 2020, plus (unspecified) court costs.