[ London Times ]
This newspaper, most correctly known simply as The Times, began publication in 1785 and continues to this day.
The September 2, 1825 edition of The Times carried, in its police blotter section, the following account of an attack on a woman by a Newfoundland:
Mr. Cook, a gentleman residing in Acre-lane, Clapham, appeared on a summons to answer to a complaint preferred against him for keeping a vicious dog.
A gentleman, whose name did not appear, stated, that he attended on behalf of a lady, named Donaldson. Mr. Cook had a house to let, and Mrs. Donaldson went to look at it, and was shown over the premises by Mr. Cook's daughter. When they reached the garden, a large Newfoundland dog suddenly rushed upon her, threw her down, and seized her by the thight, biting her most severely, and there was little doubt that he would have destroyed her but for the interference of a man who was working in the garden. She was now extremely ill at home, not only from the wound, but the apprehension of a certain dreadful malady.
Mr. and Mrs. Cook said, that they invariably kept the dog tied up, and that he slipped his collar on the day in question without their knowledge. They admitted, on being questioned, that the dog had once before slipped his collar.
Mr. Cook was ordered to determine if the dog were rabid, and depending on the result either "to destroy him or send him away."