″Watership Down” Author Richard Adams Calls Dog As Witness

SOUTHAMPTON, England (AP) _ Richard Adams, author of ″Watership Down,″ the best-selling novel about rabbits, called his dog as a witness in a hearing involving two quarrelling estate gamekeepers.

Adams was testifying Tuesday before an industrial tribunal for David Claridge, a gamekeeper who claimed he was forced to resign because he was alarmed by the angry outbursts of his fellow gamekeeper David Hunt.

Adams, in supporting testimony about Hunt’s temper, said Hunt swore at him while he was walking on a public path near the Andrew Wills estate. Hunt threatened to shoot his collie Tetter unless she was put on a leash, Adams said.

″I have knocked around the world a bit and was in the army for five years ... but I have never heard language like it. He (Hunt) was beside himself with rage,″ Adams said.

The tribunal then allowed Adams to call his collie as a witness to show the animal’s obedience. Tetter bounded into the tribunal room but sat instantly when commanded by Adams.

Hunt testified that the dog had scattered his pheasants.

Claridge later withdrew his case after accepting a settlement equivalent to $3,000 from the employer.