From the Freeman’s Journal, 9 November 1842
“WONDERFUL EFFECT OF A BLOW FROM A DOG’S TAIL
Several vintners were summoned before the magistrates to answer the complaints of police-constables, who charged them with having violated the Spirit Act.
Bartholomew Romainville, a French proprietor of a well-known tavern, situate in Portobello, was charged by a constable with having kept his house open for the sale of spiritous liquors before two o’clock on Sunday the 23rd of October.
The magistrate inquired of the defendant whether he pleaded guilty or not guilty.
M. Romainville (with much vivacity) Coupable par son montre (pointing to the constable), mais non-coupable par le mein?
Magistrate – What do you mean?
M. Romainville – Monsieur, I do mean to say that I am guilty according to the watch of the gens-d’armes, but not guilty according to my own clock that ticks in my own hall. The defendant then proceeded to explain how he had a great big Newfoundland dog, who had a great big tail like a sweeping -brush, which he wagged about on all sides. This great big dog, in passing through the hall on Saturday night, happened to knock his tail against the weight of a German clock which hung suspended against the hall, and the blow had so magic an effect upon the mechanism of the aforesaid clock that it put it back by thirty-two minutes behind the actual time of day. He had been misled by this unhappy event on the day following, and when he opened his shop, he was under the impression that the hour was two o’clock instead of thirty-two minutes after one, as it appeared to be by the constable’s watch. Defendant assured the bench that this house was one of unexceptional character. He had married a new wife recently, and she kept everything in regularity.
The magistrates imposed the mitigated penalty of five shillings and M. Romainville left the office in great glee.”
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