The sun., 1892-10-30
LEGAL DISPUTE OYER THREE BEARS.
Guide Courtney shot Them, but Lawyer
KyMn Claims IhAt They BeIoag to Him.

Ryan Claims that They Beio.s to Him.
ALBANY. Oct 29.-All Hamilton county is
discussing the merits Of the celebrated case Of
Ryan agt. Courtney. which has Just begun.
When it is remembered that jury trials in all
their native simplicity still prevail in Hamil-
ton county. and that there is hardly a Justice
who is a lawyer. it will be understood how i'm :
portant are these barroom discussions prior
to the trial.
New YORK lawyer in the firm OF Macveach l.
Stetson. In which also Is ex-President Grover
Cleveland. Lawyer Ryan's presence in Sage
vile. Hamilton county. where the scene OF the
action is laid. was due to the fact that OK Sec
retary Of the Navy William C. Whitney has
made certain land purchases in tho Adiron-
dack region. the titles to which Lawyer Ryan
is looking up. The defendant Jim Courtney.
is an Adirondack guide. living at Saeevile.
Lawyer Ryan one morning not long ago
went out for a ride on horseback and espied
three bears. an old one and two young
They had been eating apples in an orchard
beside tho road. and quickly scurried into the
woods at the approach OF the barrister. prob
ably feeling instinctively that In tho hands OF
n New York lawyer even their skins were not
safe. Ryan returned and reported the pres
ence Of the BEARS He was told BY the old
tavern keeper that the bears would return to
the orchard. as the failure OF tho black berry
crop and the fact that this is not the year for
beech nuts had driven the bears t. seek the
settlements in search Of food. and that the
discovery OF the orchard by this particular
family was n godsend which they would not
be likely to abandon.
About dusk Mr.. Ryan took his gun and saun-
tered down to Jim Courtney's cabin and asked
him to bring out his dogs and gun and help
Ia had ~
nev as n guide on many previous occasions.
but this time Jim was busy and did not want
whistiej to his dogs shoulderod his gun. ana
started with Ryan for the bears. Tho bears
were easily found. but when they ran they
came up he had bnEged the game. shooting
all three. Ryan directei Courtney. as MS
call it,. load tho three carcasses on it. and
transport them 10 tho sheds OF the hotel. This
COURTNEY did without domnr.
Ryan entered the hosiery. and for several
killed the bears. Tor it is Il widely, observed
that Whatever a guide Kills or captures on a
hun in: or iishing trip belongs to his en-
ployer But while Ivan was in the hotel at
skinned tho three bears where they lay: He
Gru,lly replied tLnt Mr.. Kyan had nothing to
say about, it: as he .courtnryl nad killed the
$40 IL head and sell tho ms.
This was the first intimation Ryan had that
he was not the owner of the three dead bears
some OF hi, friends laughed at his being GU
chred ty tho woodsInnn. and az the evening
waned and the wills Key bottio went round to
keen OIL tho chils he waxed indignant and
finally declared that IL he was 4 atenderfoot he
would not be Eouged in such u way Where
rlcvln from the local Squire and put the skins.
valued ut about $40. in the hands OF the con-
stable. Coifrtney had already collected tho
bounty OF $40 AS the officially stamped skins
Already the store and tavern jurles have
tried the case. but. strange to say. have not
been able to agree. No native when asked
what he thinks Of the equity In he case vii do
moro than roll his huge quid meditativ"ly
nroand his mouth. spit slowly and reiectively
into the ashes. and say:
Wall. yer see. it depends"
tourtney's defence is not that he Is entitled
the bears because he killed them. Tor III.
unwrtten law that gives the man WHO hires u
orally observed. hut he alleges that hs was not
hired by liyan. but accompanied him as any
other sportsman might accompany another.
and. OF course. WAS entitled to all he killed. But
for It Is another unwritten law in thu noun.
tains that when l'arty OF two or more grnut
~ hunt with dogs and gun. whatever Is Killed
shall be equally distributed among all tho
participants.
Ryan declares that he will fight the case
through tho backwoods courts OF Hamilton
county. aud carryi ny as far as j. uecessary'
Just to show gnides that 1t IL not wise to IN,
pose, on ,tendsrIeet" when they ,haprcn TO
killed lawyer ana the hackwoods Justices
viii he amusing and furnish n tepir for COM
tersation and argument through IN" winter.
As, IL i, election topics are forgotten il 'he
talk over the case'of Ryan act. Courtnoy'