New York Times, 1954 November 24

Sightless Musician Sounds Off in Court



The beat-beat-beat of drums and the howl of a timberwolf shattered the otherwise sober atmosphere of the Supreme Court yesterday as a blind man offered a musical backdrop to his $ 100.000 damage suit charging misuse of his art.
Thomas Louis Hardin, 38 years old, a sightless street musician and peddler, who told the court he uses the name of "Moon Dog" for professional reasons, has brought a suit against Allan Freed, a disk jockey. "Moon Dog", says that Mr. Freed, on his radio broadcasts, has been calling himself the "King of the Moon Doggers" and has been playing "Snake Time" music and other tunes allegedly composed by Mr. Hardin without the complainant's permission.
Justice Carroll G. Walter listened to the complaint of "Moon Dog", who appeared in court in a wrap that resembled a monk's habit, then reluctantly agreed to listen further to "Moon Dog Symphony" and "Howl of the Timberwolf", compositions that the blind man said he had written.
As the musical mélange of jungle sounds, plus harmonies that sounded like melodies from a Chinese mambo and clattering chopsticks, poured from a portable phonograph and echoed through the chambers, Justice Walter buried his face behind a handkerchief. He called for an intermission and then scheduled another court session for 10 a.m. today.