Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-11-24
DIDN'T KNOW THE LAW.
A STATE OFFICIAL ACCUSED OF VIC
LATINO THE DEER LAW.
Doe-KilIeis Punished in Ell Dorado
County-Cases Before the San
Francisco Courts.

Francisco Courts.
There will surely be good results follow
the recent numerous prosecutions by the
State Board of Fish Commissioners of per.
sons and firms engaged in illegal fishing,
deer-slaying and traffickiag in the skins OF
does and fawns.
In the case tried in this city on Friday
the defendant testified that his firm had
already sent out word TO all its agents not
to purchase nor forward any prohibited
deerskins. If people will not buy these
skis there will be no inducement for the
vandals in the mountains to kill other than
bucks. The next thing the Legislature
should do is to limit the number of deer
that any person shall be allowed to kill
during the year. A round dozen would
sutely be enough to satisfy the cravings of
any sportsman, while the hide hunters are
entitled to no consideration at all.
| PROSECUTIONS IN Ell DORADO.
The people of FL Dorado county have at
last become aroused to the fact that one of
|
| tourists and settlers (the DEER was in dan
ger of being 5lotted out. and their officials
have lately been active in enforcing the
game law. Deputy Fish Commissioner
Smith, of that county, whose duty it is to
| look out for the game as well as the finny
| tribe, procured the arrest of two hunters a
week ago for violating the game laws
! They were two young hunters from ANA
dor county, named Charles Gilbert and
Walter Dent, who had been hunting north
of the Rubicon and had collected about
thirty deer.skins. They were charged with
having deer-hides in their possession from
which the evidence of sex had been re-
moved. On being taken before Justice
Carpenter, both men pleaded guilty. They
took the arrest very gracefully and said
they we're aware that it was contrary to
law to kill does, bnt that as everybody else
appeared to be killing them, and as the law
seemed to be q dead-letter, they followed
the customs in ignoring it. They were
I fined $50 each, which they paid promptly,
remarking that they were glad that the
game law was to be enforced, and that
hereafter they would obey it and aid in Sc
curing its enforcement on others.
This, says the Republican, is step in the
right direction, and, if it is followed up,
the game law can be enforced as well as
enforced, for, with the repeating rifles and
the present practice of shooting all kinds
of deer, it will be but short time till they
will be too scarce to afford any amusement
in hunting, and in time will be practically
exterminated.
Two important arrests were lately made
in San Francisco by Deputy Commissioner
Tunstead, the officer who gave such direct
and positive testimony for the people in
the case tried here on Friday. One was
that of John II. Wise, member of the
State Board of Harbor Commissioners, who
is charged with having in his possession
deer-skins of the class prohibited by law.
A large quantity of deer-skins were found
in his warehouse under conditions con-
sidered illegal. Mr.. Wise said he was ig-
norant of the law upon the matter, and was
released by Police Judge Joachimsen on
his own recognizance.
The other person arrested was Solomon
Cahen, of Al Clay street. The case of the
latter was called in the Police Court on
Friday, partially tried, and continued
until yesterday. The defendant was ar
rested by Tunstead for misdemeanor
which he committed in his having illegally
prepared deer-skiDs in his possession. The
Deputy swore that he had seized the skins
from the inside of the store. Cahen de-
clared that they were outside and that
there was no evidence that he owned
them.
CHINESE FISH vANDALs.
For some months past it has been known
to the Deputy Fish Commissioners that
the Chinese fishermen have been taking
fish at San Pablo Bay by illegal means
Last Thursday Chief of Patrol F. P. Cal
lundan and three deputies went after
them in tug. He ran upon five Chinese
fishing boats. A descent was made upon
the fishermen, but a number of them
jumped into the water and swan ashore.
After short chase the occupants of three
boats, twelve Cinnamon, were captured,
taken to Martinez and jailed. The men
had been catching small fish by means of
bag nets, contrary to law.
THE NAPA CASE.
Some weeks ago the Commissioners
caused the arrest of the managers of the
Sawyer Tanning Company ut Napa for
having IN their possession deer skins from
which evidence of sex had been removed.
The case was duly tried before Justice
Thompson, who yesterday rendered his de-
cision. The Justice holds thst the prose-
cution did not make out a sufficiently
strong case and dismissed the complaint.
SENTIMENT is CHANGING.
That is the old story-the result in the
Napa case. Indeed, until recently it YVES
almost impossible to fad a man who
dared 10 testify in Court against deer
butcher, or an officer who had the nerve 10
prosecute ole 0Ahe creatures. In Lake. Napa,
Sonoma, Mendoeino, Colusa, Tehama, Ne
vada, Ell Dorado and other counties these
outlaws have killed and marketed deer of
fboth sexes at alhseasons of the year, and
tpeople were afraid to inform on them for
| fear OF Being shot down some time while on
| their outings. But things have chang ed
People are beginning to understand and
appreciate the situation. They are finding
themselves robbed by gang of lazy out
laws, and they propose henceforth to pat a
check upon them. The bold move made
by the present Fish Commission (Which
has been empowered also with the author
| ity to enforce the game laws) is striking
terror to the hearts Of the mountain bush
whackers, and public opinion is making it
so cdious for any person to have in their
possession the evidences of illegal deer
| Staying that decent business men will not
receive nor deal in such. This is demon
strated by the fact that a lot of doe and
fawn-skins have been lying in a shed on
the waterfront in this city for several
weeks, and the parties to whom they are
Consigned disown and will not touch them.
| Let the good Work go on.
GIANT POWDER FISHERMEN.
Persons living in the vicinity of Miehi-
lan Bar have complained to President
Reuter- of the Fish Commission that GER
tain Cinnamon in that vicinity have been
in the habit of exploding giant powder in
the Costumes river for the purpose of
killing fish therein. There will probably
be arrests made in that quarter soon.
1
A MEAN TRICK.
How Lawyer Took an Unfair Afevan-
| tage of Witness.