The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-07-16
The taan,e Thieves.

The Game Thieves.
just before the prairie CHECKER
shooting opens, sort of a midsum
mer madness seems to seize npor
certain would-be sportsmen, which
renders them dangerous to the COM
munity. 1t is displayed in the mad
desire to get out for "a first crack at
the BIRDS" and an inability to wait
until they can take to the prairies
honorably and lawfully. Some men,
bers of this class attempt to excuse
themselves upon the ground that If
they do not 60 before the law is off,
others will do SO, and thus there will
not be any birds left. Others, do not
go to this trouble even, but steal
away slyly, and when they return
keep the proceeds of their dishonest
act secreted, and eat the young
chickens with fear and trembling,
the natural companions of guilty
conscience.
To call such men thieves may seem
at first thought great harshness, yet
they are thieves in every sense of the
word, quite as much as the horse
thief who enters your barn or en-
closure, but not so brave, because
they do not incur the risk of their
lives and of heavy penalty as the
horse thief. The latter steals from
individuals, but these bird-thieves
steal from the Territory, which is
the representative of the entire COM
munity. Game Is the property of the
Territory or State and is protected
for the benfit of the community by
laws intended to promote its increase,
to the end that greater pleasure and
profit may result therefrom. In fit
ting seasons the State or Territory
valves its ownership temporarily, and
all men may shoot then without
hlnderance, except from trespass laws
and others of their kind which may
be in force.
Law abiding men, men of honor,
respect the game laws and would
steal the Territory's wild chickens
no more than they would their
tame chickens. These
game-thieves have not any sense Of
honor, and consequently have not
any respect for the rights of other
men. If unlawful shooting was not
practiced all men could start in on
the opening day, Aug. Is, with equal
chances for good bags, provided
their skill was equal; but by the
INSCRIPTIONS action-"infernal cuss-
edness" the Gam Valley Sentinel
calls it-of the game thieves the law
abiding sportsmen find the ground
already shot over and three fourth of
the chickens killed when they take
the field.
1t would be bad enough if this
unlawful shooting was done wholly
by disreputable persons; but it is
not. Many men whose characters in
business and in a social way are of
the best, men who in.ordinary matters
are kind and liberal, and who would
scorn to be guilty of an ordinary dis
honest action, regard breech of the
game law-the shooting of few
prairie chickens-as trivial offense,
and are guilty of it every year of
their lives. Is it not a madness
that makes such men forget all the
of honor and honesty,
and become thieves for the sake Of a
little mean and selfish indulgence?
Game thieves are as dangerous to
the community as any other. What
they steal may not have as great in
trlnsic value as gold or stock, but
what is wanting in this respect is
made up for in others. We have
first the bad example; all the more
pernicious because it emenates SO
often from men who are expected to
be models to their fellow men; and
next we have too freely a hypocrisy
which is not present in any other.
In half the cases these game thieves
are the loudest sheuters for good
laws and ethclent prOtectlOn.
That the law is strong enough to
cope with such cases If properly ap-
pealed to is undeniable, but how
seldom il it set in motion. The law
requires moral as well as practical
support, the support of strong pub
lie sentiment. The lash of public
sentiment cuts deeper often than the
blow from the strong arm of the law.
Both should be employed upon those
who deserve them, no matter what
their station in society has been or
what their pecanlary circumstances
may be.
Report Of Treasurer Of Fouth Of July
Fnnd.