The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-01-09
SLAUGHTER OF DEER.
Commissioner Musser Makes an In
vestigation of Contraband Veni-

To the Editor of The Herald:
Referring to the town talk over the
conraband venison, killed in northeast
ern Utah or northwestern Colorado, the
county court of Mesa county is now in
vestigadng the matter. The case has
been continued until tomorrow awaiting
the presence of witnesses from Utah.
The following bill of lading, or affidavit,
explains some CT the features Of the law
lessness of parties as yet unknown TO
the authorities of the two states:
Territory of Utah, county of Car
i. Byron S. Bartholf, being first duly
sworn, deDose and say. that / have IN IN
my possession for transportation, q, 800
pounds of venison: that T. IL. Geafy
driver, has 15S saddles and SO carcasses,
1910 POUNDS.
a. j. Allen, driver, has 10 saddles anu
81 carcasses. 4,493 pounds.
c. Kemher, driver, has IS saddles and
Is carcasses, 1881 pounds.
Dan OlmStead, driver, has IS saddles
ana carcasses, 2,092 pounds.
Total number pounds OF VenlSon, Zl,SO6.
That [ am not the owner of said veni-
son, but merely emp Dyed to transport
the same; that / know where she deer
were killed. and that they were not
killed within the territorial limits Of the
state OF Colorado. nor in vio1Gtfon OF the
laws OF any state or territory.
BYRON S. BARTHOLF.
Subscribed and sworn to before me. the
NJ P. BRAFFET.
County Clerk Carbon county.
My first knowledge of the presence of
the vel Is W tn n or STATE came { rough
this telegram;
Denver. Col, December 20. 1895.
a. NJ. Musser, Fish and Game Commits
sioner. Salt Lake:
If game held at Price, Utah. has been
killed in Colorado, seize same and notify
iS in 1aj of In W
GORpAN LAND,
St2te Game Waruen-
I Immediately enclosed this telegram to
the prosecuting attorney OF Carbon
county. and begged him to promptly in
Vestigate and report result to Mr.. Land
! and myself, but he was not at home and
my letter was returned to me by the
county judge, unopened, Notwithstanding
it was addressed to his care. on the
22nd ult | wired the sheriff at Price
What has been done with the alleged
unlawfuily taken yenison?' On the same
day the deputy sheriff answered. The
railroad company would not receive ii
! here, and they have moved it to parts
unknown to me-" Next day [ wired
back, Make every effort TO arrest and
punish violators of the game law, seize
| unlawfully taken game and hold all sub
| 1ect to order, and wire the result. My
aim was to get the authorities cf Car
bon to take the initial steps, and then
| take an attorney to prosecute. Marshal
| Br CHAM at my instance, would have
| sent a deputy, but his men were all
pushed to r. axe up their yearly reports.
and could not go.
On the nth ut. Mr.. Land wrote me.
| Il. have not as yet heard any
S''ar4,t'el Of Colorado killed deer and
! elk that have been offered for transporta-
l ton al Price. 1t is possible that the per-
sons guilty of this violation have removed
| the game to some other point [ wish If it
/ is possible for you to seize II whenever
! found to do so, as 1 am informed it is
against your state laws to kill and ship
| venison out Of the state; it certainly is
| against ours.
| Thanking you for the promptness with
! which you responded to my telegram in
| regard to the unlawful handling cf Colo
RADIO game in your state. am yours truly,
GORDON LAND.
| State Fish Warden.
On the 4th inst. he wired me from this
l point: Nine wagon sOadS VeniS0n here,
| claimed killed in Utah. What shall l
do? Does you law prohibit shipping out
! of state?" [ answered | would be at
\ Grand Junction next day. On my way
hither / met him at Price and together
| we proceeded to this place. l think he
| has pretty strong case and his best
| witnesses are the Justice of the peace
and town marshal of Price. No doubt
Barthoif is guilty of violating the laws
| and is one of the principals in the ne
farious, business; The freighters, are not
fully intended to violate the laws, I do
! not believe. l am told that they were
urged to cart the meat TO THIS point by
the manager of a mercantile house at
Price. and that the freighters' charges
were guaranteed. I have seen and con-
versed with all the defendants. Bartholf
Is accused of having been found guilty
Of violating the game law some time
back He admitted to me that he had
been arrested, but claims an acquittal.
Among the deer I noticed several fawns.
I asked Bartholf what became of the
fore quarters of the deer detached from
the 34S saddles. He replied that some
were eaten. 1t is believed by the knowing
ones that they were left On tie ground
where the deer were slaughtered. What q
criminal waste!
1t is said that the shipment was con-
signed to Denver party, and that it was
to be sent thence to st. Louis and other
eastern points.
I have been thus minute in order to al
lay suspicious that not enough energy
has been put into this business. Ny
actions have been under the advice OF
eminent attorneys. and [ have done al
[ could in the premises, handicai red as
have been for the want of accessory
funds, no appropriations having been
made for the contingent expenses of the
Office Respect ally,
A. MILTON MUSSER.