The Wasp — 1890 — page 366: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page contains satirical sketches illustrating a legal case where a dog was tried in Milpitas Superior Court for attacking a man. The cartoons depict courtroom scenes with exaggerated physiognomical studies (a pseudo-scientific practice of that era analyzing facial features to determine character). The satire mocks both the absurdity of prosecuting an animal and the era's belief in physiognomy as legal evidence. The detailed courtroom sketches show the prisoner's box and judicial proceedings, ridiculing the serious treatment of what The Wasp presents as an ridiculous case. The accompanying text confirms a witness testified the dog had "provoked the prisoner by teasing him," highlighting the satirical point about the case's questionable merit.