The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1895-08-07
FINED TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS.
What 1t Cost a Man to Violate the
Game Law.
A Cold-StoraRe Nabob in Illinois Had
Thousands of Quail. and They
Cost Him So Each.

When the present game law was first
the Legislature, there was q fierce warfare
made against it by the parties Interested
IN the business of ''cold storage" They
very cunningly disguised the cause Of
their opposition, however, by raising
false issues and attacking the proposed
law on grounds that, strange to say,
found some following.
1t was well known to many friends of
the bill and OF game protection that GER
tain oil these cold-s.orage magnstes had
contributed quite fund to be used in the
effort to defeat the bin. and the charge
was repeatedly and openly made that
they had done 50.
But few persons are apparently aware
Of the extent to which this cold storage
business had been carried on in this State.
| and is still being surreptitiously con-
Quoted in other States. Whether or not
| these concerns have all been broken up
in California 1t Is difficult to say. Some
persons declare they have not and that
quail and grouse can be had at high
priced restaurants in san Francisco any
day i'll the year.
However, one of these cold-storage
| magnales back in kewanee, ILL.,, has Just
received u dose OF justice for his infraction
| OF the law of that State that may send
him to the poorhouse, albeit he is very
wealthy man, whose money was made at
the expense of other people by the illegal
and indiscritnlnate slaughter OF wild
game. The Quincy, Ill.,, Herald of July
10Th contains the following dispatch from
kewanee concerning the affair:
Game Warden Charles Fl. Blow, Of
~, =
| search warrant from Justice Pyle.
which permitted him to enter the game
storehouse of Ii. Clay Merritt. Bundling
themselves IN heavy OVerCOats and dom
| ming mittens and rubbers, the party pro-
ceeoed INFO the inner parts OF the store.
house. They found forty large zinc bar
rels, Theoretically sealed, which, when
| opened, disclosed timely preserved quail
| and prairie chickens, some ofthem having
| bean thete for ten years. Several Of the
citizens who doubted the preservation of
| these birds wore served to q dinner of
shem and were highly pleased.
AZ the partial hearing of the case. one
Of the barrels was found TO contain 1S3
| birds. The forty barrels will probably
average 100 to the barrel, and at this rate
the least possible fine, which is So for
| each bird, Mr.. Merritt will have to pay
| S-0,0o0. he extreme fine Is SO for each
bird. NJ. X. Bartree, President OF the
National Game, Fish and Bird Pro ective
| Association, was present to assist the
| Warden III The prosecution. Half of the
| fines Will go TO the school fund and half
| to the Game Warden alter costs are paid.
| M. Merritt's argument Ia that prop
erty once legally obtained cannot be
/ alienated by the lapse OF few months.
He WAS given until Monday to prepare a
| defense."
| y later issue of the same paper. re-
| coived In this city, states that Merritt was
found guilty anu given the lowest penalty
| 50 per bird, or SO, 900.
| Does anyone wonder now why the cold
| storage men of Los Angeles and San
Francisco were so bitterly opposed TO the
new game law.