Welcome to Queensland Police Museum, home to many police archival materials such as vehicles, uniforms, equipment, and badges. One item here, however, stands out. It’s a taxidermy body of a dog named Peter. What’s so special about this dog? He just helped convict a murderer.
On May 22, 1952, 23-year-old taxi driver Athol Henry McCowan was murdered. The investigation progressed quickly, as police had witness reports and details about the suspect’s vehicle—and even the dog he had with him.
After an intensive Australia-wide investigation, Arthur Ernest Halliday was arrested that November and charged with murder. His dog, named Peter, had died in the meantime, but the prosecution insisted that he was mounted for his court appearance.
On the big day, witnesses identified Peter as the kind of dog seen at the crime scene. Halliday himself was so surprised to see his faithful friend in the courtroom that he blurted out it was his dog. This outburst, along with other evidence, linked Halliday to the crime scene. He was found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment.
(Image Credit: JBartlett2000/ Atlas Obscura)
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