George Grimston found guilty

This story was published by The Ypsilanti Record on Thursday, August 14, 1919.

George Grimston was found guilty by a jury in Justice Stadtmiller’s court. Grimston was accused by Mrs. Ruby Miller, a neighbor, of harboring three loud barking, yelping dogs. The dogs that figured in the suit were just common dogs—black and tan—but they had names that would make an ordinary dog green with envy. The old dog aged 13 years, was named Teddy, after our great ex-president, Roosevelt; and the other two dogs, offspring of Teddy, were named Hans and Fritz, after the Katezen-jammer kids of Sunday newspaper colored comics fame. Most of Grimston’s neighbors had been subpoenaed to testify against him and those who were not volunteered to do so.

The dogs were accused of doing everything but robbing a bank. Witnesses testified they barked loud and long at nights, making it impossible to sleep; that they stole milk bottles and robbed hen’s nests and sucked eggs. Another witness testified the dogs dug holes in the park, and another that they chased automobiles and bicycles. Still another testified that the dogs had bitten her brother, and ex-Street Commissioner Crossman.

Grimston testified that he was keeping the dogs for his brother-in-law, Eugene Matthews, who was doing military duty in France. Testimony was brought out that when Matthews left there was only the old dog, and that three months after he left Matthews’ wife notified the dog catcher to come and get the dog and kill her. Grimston was fined $5 and $15.15 costs, which he paid