Conan Doyle’s Canine Defence.

Conan Doyle’s Canine Defence.

The case unfolded at Mark Cross Police Court at Tunbridge Wells in April, 1913. The defendant was a collie dog named Roy. Roy stood accused of killing a sheep belonging to a farmer named Arthur Hale. Roy’s defence was conducted by his owner - none other than the world famous author, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

Farmer Hale had already been interviewed by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle at his home in Crowborough, Sussex. It was then that Arthur Hale accused Roy of killing his sheep.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle opened the defence by cross-examining both the farmer and a farm boy named John Hornby. Much of the prosecution case rested on a white spot that was allegedly seen on the dogs nose. This would have identified the miscreant as being Roy himself. 

Questioning John Hornby, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle pointed out that such a mark would be very difficult to see at a distance, as Hornby had claimed. This was especially true as the dog was running away from John Hornby at the time. 

Turning to address the magistrates, Conan Doyle then revealed his trump card. He stated that Roy had a malformation of the jawbone. This meant that he could only eat the softest of foods. The claim was backed up by evidence from a veterinary surgeon. He confirmed that Roy was indeed incapable of killing a sheep. 

In a further plea to the magistrates, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle said that Roy was a valuable and beautiful collie and the playfellow of his children. 

Conan Doyle also commented on the role of the police in the case: “The police, I think in a most unwarranted way, suggested that I should destroy the dog. That suggestion, I understand, came from the chief constable direct at a time when it was never proved that the dog had touched a sheep.“

After some deliberation, the magistrates concluded that it was a case of mistaken identity. The case was therefore dismissed. 

It was widely reported in a number of newspapers, including the Crowborough Weekly, the Manchester Courier, and the Portsmouth Evening News. In America, a news report appeared in The New York Times under the headline “Sherlock Holmes“ Wins. Sir A. Conan Doyle Conducts a Police Court Case Triumphantly. 

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle had applied logic and reason when defending Roy. By doing so he had saved the dogs life. Sherlock Holmes would surely have been proud of his creator. 

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