[ Case of John Duxberry et al / Proceedings of the Old Bailey ]
The Old Bailey (properly known as The Central Criminal Court of England and Wales) was the principal criminal court in London in the 18th and 19th centuries (and remains in use to this day). The records of trials held at the Old Bailey have been digitized and made freely available online (oldbaileyonline.org).
This particular case (reference number t18270215-57) was heard on 15 February 1827 and involved charges of theft, housebreaking, and "perverting justice" against John Duxberry, Willliam Fox, and Rebecca Mullins. During the trial one of the victims, Sarah Willingham, explains what she found when she returned home shortly after the crime was committed — a finding that will suprise no one who is aware of the fact Newfs generally make very poor guard dogs:
. . . we had a Newfoundland dog inside the house; when I got in, I found the back parlour door wide open; I had left it shut when I went out; there are folding-doors from that room to the front; I went in, and saw papers scattered about; I then went up to the drawing-room, and found that door open; the drawers were rifled, and a great deal of wearing-apparel scattered about —I found the next room door open, and every cupboard and lock forced open; I went down, and called my husband out of the garden; I then went into the kitchen, and found the dog tied up to the dresser with a silk handkerchief: he was loose when we went out, and had the range of all the stairs; he was tied up very tight with a handkerchief put under his collar, and tied to the leg of the dresser; my husband cut the corner of the handkerchief off to get the dog loose; it was our own handkerchief; a fore-spring of pork, which I had left on the dresser, was thrown down to the dog, who was tied up too tight to get at it. . . .
Duxberry and his partners were all found guilty and executed.