[ Case of Annette Meyers / 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 t18480228-826) was heard on 28 February 1848 and involved a charge of murder against a young woman who had shot her former lover after he left her for another woman.
The only reference to Newfoundlands in the course of this trial comes from the gunmaker from whom the accused bought the weapon she used to kill her former lover:
"On Thursday evening, 3rd Feb., the prisoner came to my shop about ten minutes before eight — she wanted a pistol — I told her at first that I had not got a single pistol, I had pairs, but it would not answer my purpose to part them — she said she wanted one to shoot a Newfoundland dog — I said I had some old pistols lying in my back warehouse, that would do for that as well as going to 2£ or 3£ for one, and that I could sell her one for a few shillings — she said her brother would have come for it, but he was lame and could not get out — I said it was not often usual for ladies to come and buy pistols — she said no, she did not suppose it was — I showed it her, and told her the price was 10s. — she wished to have it loaded — I said she had better allow me to send one of my men to shoot the dog — she said, "No, it is too far; we live at Hackney; though my brother is lame, he is quite capable of shooting the dog" — I loaded the pistol with a ball, put it into a bag, and then in a sheet of brown paper, and tied a string round the lock, so that it was impossible for any accident to occur. . . ."
Although the jury recommended clemency due to Annette Meyer's mistreatment at the hand of her former lover, she was sentenced to death, age 26.