Choo-tai of Egham

Choo-tai of Egham was owned by Miss Violet Ashton Cross, and lived with her at Lea House, Egham.^[1] At the Aylesbury and District Canine Society Show in October 1912, Choo-tai was named the best Pekingese in a category sponsored by the Pekingese Club of Great Britain. He was subsequently named the second-best dog in the show of any variety.^[2]

The dog was named the Best Champion at the Cruft's dog show in 1913.^[3] The dog was well known for being named the best dog in a variety of shows across the country, during the course of his two-year-long show career it won more than 200 prizes. At one point, Miss Ashton Cross refused an offer of £1,500 to purchase him.^[1]

At the Southampton dog show in 1913, Choo-tai was again named the best dog in the show. Choo-tai's caretaker, Miss Ashton Cross, got a warning before the show that Choo-tai might be poisoned. After the dog show judges had finished their evaluation, Choo-tai returned to his pen and became sick over the following days. He died three days afterward.

In the aftermath of Choo-tai's death, suspicions arose that someone had planted a poisonous piece of liver in Choo-tai's pen. A toy spaniel was also killed in a similar manner at the show.^[4] Ashton Cross placed a £100 reward for information on Choo-tai's death.^[1] A doctor said that it would have taken a skilled practitioner to apply the correct dosage of poison.^[4]