The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-14
Mr.. BERGA AND THE PIGEON SHOOTERS.

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From Wilkes Spirit Of the Times, Jan. 1871
The nterferences unwarrahtable assumptions and
despotlc claims Of MIR. Bergh have now come TO
such an extravagant pitch that much amazement
and Indignation have been excited by his dOlngs.
He has gone SO far that 1t mas become plain duty
to resist him. so as to teach him that ne has not
been clothed with despOtic powers and that the
people OF this city do not hold their rights merely
by his sufferance and liberation. On Friday las
q number of gentlemen Of this city, with
Others from Buffalo, Philadelphia, Illinois, New
Jersey ana Rhode Island, were to have shot for q
sweepstakes and service Of plate at Fleetwood Park
This perfectly lawful sport and recreation was pre-
vented the instgaton Of Mr. Bergh by the police.
who might have been much better employed in at
tending 10 their legitimate duties On Saturday the
match between Ira Paine and Captain Bogardus
was interrupted, after It had began. by Mr. Hat
field, said to be Mr.. Bergh's superintendent. what
ever that may mean again backed by the police.
In regard TO this interference we refer our readers
to note from air. De Forrest published in another
column.
We declared last week that the employment OF
the police to carry out the insane notions and un.
lawful vagarles OF Mr.. Bergh, as against respecta-
Die citizens was gross breach OF order and pro-
prlety. We should denounce these further inter-
lcTcuCeS anu tTcSphSScS al NCIy ScNcIc VI
the fact that the Police Commissioners seem to have
discovered at last that 1t IS part Of their duty to
60 down on all fours to Mr.. Bergh and render i'm
pliqt obedience 10 his behests At recent
meeting Of the Board Mayor Hall offered A
resolution, which was passed unanimously,
asking the counsel Of that body to adj
wise them whether 1t Is lawful TO interfere with
and break up pigeon shooting matches 1nder the
reuliSltiOn RarOh
offence Is going TO be committed. There is no doubt
about the answer to be expected. 1t is no more an
offence TO shoot pigeons from trap than 1t Is to shoot
wild ducks or to catch trout or pckere. II the gen.
eral language OF Mr. Rergh's statute makes pigeon
shooting criminal offence the Legislature In passing
1t made about forty thousand crimes without in
tending it, and without the direct specification
which Is requisite to constitute any act o man may
commit crime 1t Is great deal worse than the
old theories OF constructive treason which went out
with Jeries ana Scroggs and never got In at all in
this country
But TINS Is not all. Mr.. Bergh is himself con.
vinced that pigeon shooting Is no crime at all at
law, and, being satisfied Of that. lie declines TO
charge any body with having committed an offence,
as to give jurisdiction to court, but comes as
trespasser, a law breaker and wrong doer, to in
terlere with perfectly lawful act. Hitherto he has
had the police to back him, and this gave sort OF
color to his illegal ana extravagant claims. We
confidently predict that he will have them no
more, and that, II he ever attempts to interfere
with another pigeon match 1t will be as o
private trespasser, in which case he must be
resisted and repelled Some people talk about his
jurisdiction l.. Why. he has no more Jurisdiction IN
q legal sense than Brown the beadle has. in regard
10 this matter he simply fills the part OF what the
English call q common inrormer," which is
wise and witty man, Sydney smith. said long ago
that such people were looked upon as Odl0us
sites by the law, and therefore tolerated; but that
the general judgment OF mankind hal long ago
come to the conclusion that the proper place for
such characters was In the nearest horse pond or
under the spout Of the parish pump. Mr.
Berghs jurisdiction Is all a myth. He has
one particle Of power or right in the premises
AaOre than any other man. II he has there will pc
chance for him to exercise on Friday. January 12
On that day Mr.. James Gordon Bennett Jr., and
Mr.. william Douglas will shoot a match al pigeons
on the grounds OF the American Jockey CuD al
Jerome Park. Men will be present resolute enough
and numerous enough to sustain the rights Of the
people and resist trespassers. II Bergh has jurls
diction and power In this state superior to that Of
the Emperor Alexander in Russia or that or Queen
Victoria in England he can stop this match. II he
We heartily applaud Mr.. Bennett and Mr. Douglas
for their public spirit in thus coming forward to
indicate the rights and liberties OF the people
against unfounded assumptions and outrageous
usurpatl0ns. Their actiOn Is just the same In kind
rs THAT OF John Hampton when he refused to pay
ship money, and that OF the men who threw the tea
overheard In Boston harbOr A writer IN the EDen-
ing POST, who signs himself IA Sportsman" has
amused and vexed us at the same time by his I'M
reasoning method. lie thinks Mr. Bergh ought to
be thanked, not because there Is any cruelty in
that she ac no more cruel '0r and ae eves
less pain than killing by wringing the neck but he
no! NIKE me peSpe VINO sSaon a. pigeon
cessary for The accomplishment or field spOrtsmen;
and ne does not think pigeon shooters are good
Now these absurditles are almost equal to those
OF Bergn himself. II this sportsman had at
Bergh he would have found plenty OF gentlemen
there quite ms own equals In station re-
epec,no1ty culture and manners ,er Pigeon
ment OF the skill desirable in the shooter who
goes out after after quail snpe o or woodcoSE. BIZ.
"Spor.sman" from shooting those II he could. He
holds any shooting OF birds for sport as q cruelty,
for shooting but the regular pot.6unter. sports
mani might as well applaud somebody for attempt
Ing to prevent dancing parties IN Fltn avenue, on
education OF marching infantry or the perfect ac-
complisnment Of finished pedestrians: AS to
inform the correspondent Of the Post that
captain B0gardus can De packed 10 shOot
against him, or against any one he
chooses % name In any description OF field sport,
for S. 900 side. The real truth Is. that the Few
VINO support Mr.. Bergh have nothing whatever IN
sense law or reason to support them, and the leter
IN the post showed IT, We shall conclude by cali
ing the attention OF the real friends and supporters
OF the Society for the Prevention OF cruelty 10 All
mails 10 the fanatica and fantastical fooeIes ia,ey
carried on under It's name. Its useiulness-ahu ~
has been usefu-wlll be entirely destroyed u u cuIu
be not put upon the vagares or the Presuens. ~.
people Will not subscribe money TO DC expenueu III
sucn foolish vexatious, incorporate ana umawiu
proceedings as those he has lattcrY peen eh-
gagged IN.
Nr. dc Eorrcst Va, Beruh and BerGh's Man.
NEW YORK, Jan. s, 1872.
TFrom wilkes Spirit OF the TImesl
DEAR SprRIr:-Mr. Bergh writes 10 the Trtoune,
denying that he had promised 10 certain parties
49,. 49, ,o,,d r,are a test case OF pigeon shooting