The shooting of Charles Burden's prize hunting dog became the center of a heated court battle featuring four lawyers, each partnered with their opponent from the Civil War era.
The original site of the trial of "Old Drum", the 1838 Old Courthouse, has been restored and is maintained as a museum by the Johnson County Historical Society just north of the Mary Miller Smiser Heritage Library and County Archives at 302 North Main.
Follow Gay Street four blocks west to Main Street and turn left to find the Old Courthouse Square. Visitors welcome.
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A Tribute to the Dog
(By Senator George Graham Vest)
"Gentlemen of the jury: the best friend a man has in this world may turn against him and become his enemy. His son or daughter that he has reared with loving care may prove ungrateful. Those who are nearest and dearest to us, those whom we trust with our happiness and good name, may become traitors to their faith. The money that a man has he may lose. It flies away from him, perhaps when he needs it the most. A man's reputation may be sacrificed in a moment of ill-considered action. The people who are prone to fall on their knees to do us honor when success is with us may be the first to throw the stone of malice when failure settles its cloud upon our heads. The one absolutely unselfish friend that a man can have in this selfish world the one that never deserts him and the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous is his dog.
Gentlemen of the jury a man's dog stands by him in prosperity and in poverty, in health and in sickness. He will sleep on the cold ground where the wintry winds blow and the snow drives fiercely if only he may be near his master's side. He will kiss the hand that has no food to offer he will lick the wounds and sores that come in encounters with the roughness of the world. He guards the sleep of his pauper master as if he were a prince. When all other friends desert he remains. When riches take wings and reputation falls to pieces, he is as constant in his love as the sun in its journey through the heavens. If fortune drives the master forth an outcast in the world, friendless and homeless the faithful dog asks no higher privilege than that of accompanying him to guard him against danger to fight against his enemies. And when the last scene of all comes, and death takes the master in its embrace and his body is laid away in the cold ground, no matter if all other friends pursue their way, there by his graveside will the noble dog be found, his head between his paws, his eyes sad but open in alert watchfulness, faithful and true even in death.
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