The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-02-03
FARMER, OTTER, TRAP.
A Pennsylvania Solomon Delivers a
Profound Judicial Decision.
Elro,, Jba Ma, Uo.-L

from me NeO YORK. sun.
BATH N. Y, Jan, 2l.-The question of the
right of wild animals that are neither protected
by the law nor under its ban and the right of
ownership in such animals, has been settled in
Pennsylvania so far as the authority,of justice
of the peace goes, by decision rendere by
Esquire Capwen of East Lemon Bradford
county, the other day Wallace Dixon is trap
per, living in the vicinity of Bardwell,
In that county. Two or three weeks ago
1e discovered unmistakabe signs of an
otter in stream near there. Even VIII N otter
were plentiful in Pennsylvania, which Trey
once were their fur was yer, valuaulr, and now
tnat they have virtually disappeared from their
old haunts their pelts are still more precious
More than thai. it had been many years since
even the suspicion that an otter was anywhere
about prevailed in that part of the state, and
pride in being the captor of possibly the last
otter in the state prompted Trapper Dixon in an
effort to bag 1t as much as the profit there
might be in its pelt Consequently lie set trap
tor this one.
Orval NJ. Billings is a farmer and one of the
leading citizens of the Bardwell neighbornood.
He knew nothing about the otter signs or the
setting of the trap by Trapper Dixon TO catch
the otter that had made the signs. The day
after the trap was set Farmer Billings was pass
Ing along IN that part of the district, when he
discovered a large, very sleek and exceedingly
angry animal trying 20 make Roadway across
country handicapped by q steel trap one Of
its fOIeeGs. Farmer Billings did not know and
took no thought as to whether the animal was
a bear, a fox, q wildcat, or q hedgehog. 1t was
wild animal, and as it is an unwrtten
law everywhere that wild animals must
be killed on sight, Farmer Billings got
club and Immediately took the
preliminary steps toward killing this one. He
0ld this the more confidently inasmuch as the
animal was already in a measure disabled and
hampered by a heavy trap. But Farmer Bill
hngs did not know the possibilities Of animals
OF the kind which this trap had closed on. lie
0ld not know that an otter, even with the odds
AGAINST it OF a trap hanging to one Of its legs,
frequently finds it on easy job to lsy out two or
three dogs and then give their owner about as
ively fight as he cares TO participate IN before
being captured. So the farmer approached
this trapped otter with much nonchaance and
very little watchfulness He raised his club to
tap the animal on the head, but before tie club
came down the otter had taken firm hold of
Farmer Billings by the leg, and with peculiar
twist tumbed his assailant in the snow.
why, says Farmer Billings, in referring TO
his interview with the otter, "the ding thing
was onto me and all over me, it 81 ems to me,
before hardly knew was down, Clswln' ana
Rnawin', and scratc1in', and growlin. and
tnarln, and snappin', like ding Wildcat and q
mad dog both together"
Ills first surprise over, Farmer Billings
changed his mind about getting away with the
outer, and adopted tactics looking toward the
pest AND quickest method OF getting away from
~ he kicked. and pounded and thumpeI until
ne managed To make an opening between MN
ana the otter sufficiently large TO enable him to
Ret upon his feet. Tnen the farmer turned to
Iueas OF his own about that and took positive
ana strenuous hold again on Farmer Billing s
iieg' The farmer couldn't 90 away without his
iissg, and so he was forced TO remain and rescue
1t II he could.
Seems to me, " says the farmer, chat must
naVe pounded that critter on the head with my
eLuo Tor the best pert of a quarter Of an hour
ana Know yelled considerable"
Whatever the exact lapse of time might have
Deen between the beginning of the farmer
pounding and its close. Farmer Billings
pounded so effectually that at last the otte
was pounded out Of existence. Ths snow wac
covered with the mingled blood Of the farmer
snu the otter. Farmer Billings shouldered his
hhara-won trophy, limped to his sleigh. tum
u'eu otter and trap into IL, and drove homs
doctor.
When Trapper Dixon went to look at hi
vter trap that morning. hopefully, but no
S Stn overconndence, he was rejoiced although
s ttsap was gone He knew chat the traI
"oSuiuh have gone away Of its own volttion
s au ne knew that there was no animal in tina
kioI, at least none IN any way likely to &c
r .U ms trap, that could have succeeded II
Easing Off with it except Ii should be thu
80 80, In fact there was no mistAkinR the trai
Aaue oy the animal that had gone off with TIT