The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1883-03-23
The Enforcement Of the Ducking Laws.

We have received from Mr.. John E.
Scmmes, counsel for the sporting clubs, a
photograph of the big guns sometimes used
in shooting ducks on the flats near Havre de
Grace. They appear to be about three times
as long as an ordinary shotgun, and arc truly
formidable weapons. Accompanying the
photograph is Mr.. Semmes statement of the
proceedings under the law, from the sports
mems standpoint. Briefly this is that the
sporting club committee have never acted
under the section of the ducking law which
makes the possession Of n big gun evidence
Of an intent to use it, but relied upon the
section declaring it unlawful to shoot ducks
at night or to use big guns from boats In
reference to the seizure of Mr.. Royd's gun,
Mr., Semmes says:
guns, offered q reward, for the delivery at my
Office Of these weapons to certain persons -
Rut one gun has been delivered under this all
the Others have been surrendered to escape pros
ecution. This one, believe, belonged to an
old gentleman by the name of Boyd. paid the
reward in Ignorance of the fact that Mr.. Boyd
was a law-abiding citizen, &c. and upon his
writing to me that he owned the gun and had
not shot 1t for along period, wrote him that as
long as these guns remained in the hands of
those who intend to observe the law, we did not
want them-they were useless but as he wished
TO he recompensed for the gun, should make
some effort to secure some small compensation
for it, which did, and sent him check.
Mr.. Semmes, it will be seen, draws it very
mild, in Mr. Boyds case. The facts are that
Mr.. Boyds house was entered by detective,
Uhn dom nfie1 hie b;r nm, on,l ,,,,,,, IL. $40
fusal to surrender it, the detective seized and
carried it away Persons have been sent to
the penitentiary for similar actions.
Mr.. Semmes also encloses some correspond
ence he has had with States Attorney Nav
nader. He fears that the Hartford county
authorities will not prosecute the violators of
the ducking laws rs vigorously as he is dis
posed to have ii done He need have no
anxiety on that point States Attorney
Maynadier has never yet failed in his duty as
States officer and there is no reason to fear
that he will be derelct in the trial of the
ducking cases. Mr.. Maynadier pronounces
the statement alleged to have been made by
HIM that the law is unconstitutional as en-
tirely unauthorized. He is sworn TO uphold
the laws and says it is not for him to decide
upon their consttutionality. Touching Mr..
Semmes' complaint that Mr.. Maynader did
not attend the trial of Galloway, before JUS
tice Adams, the States Attorney writes:
When cases are appealed, pledge you they
shall be prosecuted here to the full extent, I
do not exactly see the force of the idea that |
should have any hestancy in the matter, as 1t ia
my duty and has been my practice to prosecute,
rs far as possible, every violation of every law
in force on our statute books, so far as this
county is concerned. All wish to say is, that
whoever moves In the matter should be cautious
TO conform themselves to the law and that mn.
authorized persons should not make arrests. \
do not conceive it necessary, in order
10 prompt energetic action that our authorities
should be disregarded Very respectfully,
GEo. Y. MAYNADIER