The shooting of Charles Burden's prize hunting dog led to a heated court battle involving four lawyers, each paired with his opponent from the Civil War era. At the trial of Old Drum, Senator George Graham Vest delivered his famous tribute to the dog, declaring that while friends, family, wealth, and reputation may fail a person, a dog remains absolutely unselfish, constant in prosperity and poverty, health and sickness, guarding and accompanying its master faithfully even to the graveside.