Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1896-07-09
QUICK WORK.
The Brandy Pond Moose Hunter
bounded Up.

Rounded Up.
Through the item printed in THE
AMERICAN two weeks ago, telling of the
shooting OF a COW moose which had given
birth to a calf on an island at Brandy
pond, in the upper part of Hancock
county, Bill" Spearing, OF Cards Ridge,
was arrested and fined 900.
The case was tried in Odtown munich
pal court Thursday.
State Fish and Game Commissioner l..
L. Carleton represented the State. The
substance OF evidence produced by the
State was that Spearing and his two sons,
who were arrested with him, were at the
pond fishing or hunting June 8. Seeing
COW moose in the water swimming from
the island to the main land, they gave
chase and fired several shots at the ami
NAL The rifle was in the hands of the
senior Spearing, who did the shooting.
After being shot the animal swan 10 the
main shore and went into the woods.
Mr.. Spearing then landed his sons on the
shore and the boys were seen to follow
in tn" direction the moose took. Wheth-
er the moose was overtaken and killed or
what disposition was made of the carcass
none of the witnesses could tell.
The moose had been on the island for
the purpose of dropping her calf, it being
the custom of these animals to pick out
as secluded places as possible The fact
that the COW never returned to her young
is sufficient evidence that something be
fell her as she would not desert the calf
A day or tw4 after the alleged hunting
or shooting young son of john Baker,
of Plantation No. 80, Hancock county,
found the calf the island nearly
starved. He returned home and told his
father about discovering the young
moose. MIR. Baker brought the calf
home, where it was cared for, and in
few days appeared more like a cosset
lamb than an inha bitant of the wilds OF
Maine.
The defense offered by Attorney Robin
son and the respondents was that they
were only playing with the moose in the
water, that they did not shoot at the ami
mai and that they had no idea of hunting
VIM. Spearings story was to the effect
that heand his boys We're fishing at Bran
dy pond when COW moose was seen to
leave the island in the pond and sw i'm to-
wards the main shore. At the suggestion
OF one of the boys the party proceeded to
have little fun with the moose by seeing
how well she could swim. Although
there was ample opportunity to shoot the
animal no attempt was made to do so.
Having satisfied themselves by seeing
the moose swim the party started slowly
to roW towards the camp where their team
had been left, as Mr.. Spearing wished to
feed his horse. 1t was about an hour af-
ter seeing the moose that some looms we've
sighted and fired at.
A few days after the fishing trip he told
John Baker, of No. 80, about seeing the
moose, and in joking way, said that he
killed the animal.
In the charge against the boys, Ray and
Fremont, the case was entered mol
pressed on motion of Commissioner Garlic
ton. The father was found guilty and
fined 200 and costs. He appealed to the
supreme court and furnished bonds for
his appearance.
Commission Carleton went to No. 80
Wednesday and saw the young moose.
Mr.. Carleton describes it as risky little
heifer calf. He will take possession of
the calf in he name of the State and will
see that he animal is properly cared for
until large enough to care for itself or
disposed of by the legislature.