[ Case of John Comber / 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 t18410920-2322) was heard on 20 September 1841 and involved a charge of "deception" (swindling, basically) against John Comber, who bought two ponies from Eleanor Maddox, paying for them by giving her a Newfoundland dog and a bogus check. There is no indication in the trial record that the dog ever changed hands.
. . . I was very fond of the ponies, having had them three years — they were my husband's property — I agreed that he should have them for 62£., and also a large Newfoundland dog into the bargain. . . ."
The accused, who had been found guilty of horse stealing some eleven years earlier, was found guilty and transported for a term of seven years.
(The sale price of 62 pounds is, according to two historical currency converters I checked, worth about $10,000 US in 2021. Another converter suggests the amount is about half of that. Plus, of course, the value of the Newfoundland :)