Animals: Dumb Witness

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Last week Landlady Mme Fekety appeared in Budapest's District Court, asked for an ejectment order against Lodger Talor Bela Nager. Objection: "Noisy and dirty habits" of Lupus, Lodger Nager's Alsatian dog. Defending counsel pleaded for closer scrutiny of the facts: "I ask that Lupus, who is now sitting with his ears erect and his tail wagging outside the door, eagerly awaiting a chance to clear his character, be summoned as a witness." The Court smiled shrewdly, rejected the plea. "It is impossible," said the Court, "to administer the oath even to the most intelligent wolf dog."