When was it published?

December 31, 1736 in The Virginia Gazette

Foreign News December 31, 1736

The Virginia Gazette

Q: What sub-type of article is it?

Grave Desecration, Animal Incident

Q: What keywords are associated?

Mastiff Dog, Grave Digging, Churchyard, Dublin, Corpse Eaten, Dog Hanged

Richmond, Williamsburg, Richmond County, Virginia

View full issue View on Library of Congress PDF Page 1 PDF Page 2

What is this article about?

In Church's Town, County of Dublin, a large old mastiff dog dug up a grave, broke a coffin, and was eating a corpse when discovered by a parishioner. The dog was seized and hanged by locals, suspected of also mangling a child's body found days earlier in a similarly opened grave.

Merged-components note: Merges the incomplete start on page 1 and continuation on page 2 of the news item about a mastiff dog eating corpses in Ireland; resulting label foreign_news differs from original 'story' on the continuation.

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OCR Quality

92% Excellent

Full Text

We hear from Church's Town, in the County of Dublin, that last Week a large old Mastiff scraped open a Grave in the Church-yard there, broke a Coffin, pulled out of it a Corpse, and was eating it, when one of the Parishioners came into the Church-yard, who acquainted the parishioners, who, fearing he would kill his Neighbours, they immediately seized the Dog and hang'd him. A few Days before was found in the same Place, the Body of a Child much mangled, and the Grave opened in the above Manner, which they now suppose to have been done by this Mastiff.

If there was more Care taken in digging Graves deeper than is usually done, such shocking Sights might be prevented; the Corps lying too near the Surface, the Smell proceeding from them, induces these Creatures to tear up the Earth to get at them.

What sub-type of article is it?

Grave Desecration Animal Incident

What keywords are associated?

Mastiff Dog Grave Digging Churchyard Dublin Corpse Eaten Dog Hanged

Where did it happen?

Church's Town, County Of Dublin

Foreign News Details

Primary Location

Church's Town, County Of Dublin

Event Date

Last Week

Outcome

dog seized and hanged; child's body mangled; adult corpse partially eaten

Event Details

A large old mastiff scraped open a grave in the churchyard, broke the coffin, pulled out and began eating a corpse. A parishioner discovered it, alerted others who feared the dog might attack neighbors, seized and hanged the dog. Days earlier, a mangled child's body was found in a similarly opened grave, now attributed to the mastiff. Comment on shallow graves attracting animals.