[ London Times ]
This newspaper, most correctly known simply as The Times, began publication in 1785 and continues to this day.
The edition of April 15, 1841 carried the following report of a man who had been sold a dyed Newfoundland. Note that J. S. Pardy, the hucksterish and unscrupulous dog dealer discussed at some length here at The Cultured Newf, is mentioned in this case:
GUILDHALL. — Yesterday John Smith, a dog dealer, was charged with defrauding Mr. Knight, a silk manufacturer, of 1£ by knowingly selling him a grizzle-colored Newfoundland dog, which had been dyed black, as and for a genuine black dog.
The complainant stated, that he bought the dog of the prisoner in the street on account of its colour, about a fortnight ago, paying a sovereign for it. Upon getting it home he soon discovered that he had been defrauded, and that he had bought a dyed dog. Upon thrusting his hand in amongst the hairs on its back, it came out as black as a sweep's hand, and upon rubbing his hand along the dog's back, to show how it had been treated, minute particles of the dye sparkled up in his face, and had so affected his eyes that they had been glued together every morning when he awoke ever since. Meeting the prisoner in the street he demanded repayment of the sovereign. The prisoner said he had no money in his pocket, but gave him the address of Mr. Pardy, of Lincoln's-inn-fields, of whom he said he purchased the dog. Taking this to be a ruse to get rid of the charge, he gave the prisoner into custody.
The dog, a very fine one, rising two years old, was exhibited in court.
The prisoner said he would rather have given 2£ than have been walked through the streets in the charge of a policeman. The complainant, he said, was like a child who bought a pennyworth of cakes, ate them, and cried for the money back. The dog was a black one, though, perhaps not so black as the complainant wished; if it were washed that would show. The blacking of the hand proved nothing. The dog had been well oiled, the dust had worked in amongst the hair, and a hand thrust in amongst it would of course come out dirty.
Mr. Alderman HUMPHREY suggested, that if the complainant did not like his bargain, he would sell it to the prisoner for half a sovereign.
Prisoner said he would not give anything for it. He bought it to sell, he had sold it, and he had done with it.
Mr. Alderman HUMPHREY thought it was a case in which he ought not to interfere. It was a handsome dog, and worth 1£
The complainant replied, that the prisoner had shown the value of the dog by declaring he would not have it at any price. The Alderman thought the color no object, but he must see that if a man bought an article as one thing and it turned out to be another, he was robbed.
Mr. Alderman HUMPHREY could not hold that the complainant had been cheated, as the article he bought was worth what he had given for it. He must dismiss the case.
The prisoner was discharged.