The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-06-17
TO PUNISH POACBERS
Oklahoma Has a Law as Say
age as a Meat Axe.
DAN WIDMER APPOINTED
IS Patron Saint of Territorial
Game and Fish.
DAN WIDMER APPOINTED

Guthrie, O. T., juno 16.-(SpeciaD-Da
Widmer, the well known Republican poll
tician and game sportsman of Guthrie,
has finally concluded to accept the posi-
ton Of territorial game warden, which
was rendered him by Governor Barnes
prior TO his departure. The Fifth Iegis-
lature undertook TO put stop to the
rapid extinction Of the game and fish OF
the territory by the passage of a strin-
gent game law, which, in addition to pre-
scribing the season during which game
might be killed and the manner Of catch
ing fish, provided also for the appoint
ment Of q territorial game warden, who
is empowered to appoint a deputy in each
county. The warden is clothed with su-
preme power to enforce the law. He can
bring suit in any court without bond. and
can search any person, receptacle or place
where he suspects game is concealed, and
shall not be liable for damages for max
ing the search. There is no fat snap"
in the job, the warden and his deputies
serving without compensation other than
is allowed by fees. In justice Of the
peace courts a fee of SO is taxed up
for costs, one-haIf 10 go TO the territorial
game warden and the other half TO the
county game warden. In district courts
the fee IS SIS. Arrests can be made with
out warrants and on Sunday.
The new law provides that game may
be killed only under the following condi-
tons:
The only game that can be killed in or
out Of season is as follows: Prairie
chickens and wild turkeys, between Sep
tember l and January l. following; quail,
between Ostober 10 and February 1, fol-
lowing; plover and dove, between August
l and December 81. following. Game can
not be trapped IN any way, nor can fish
be caught except on hooks, unless N pri-
vate ponds. Violations are punishable by
a fine Of not less than SIS nor more than
500, with costs of suit, and in default OF
payment convicted persons must be sent
TO jail until payment is made. Tor the
protection Of Monaghan pheasants, some
Of which have recently been liberated in
Canadian county, the law prohibits their
killing prior TO January !, 1904. The COM
mon pheasant Is similarly protected. Per-
sons found in Oklahoma with game or
fish. caught or killed outside Of the ter
ritory contrary to the laws Of Oklohoma,
CT the state in which the game was
caught or killed, can be prosecuted. Pos
session Of prohibited game or any part
thereof during the closed season is pun
ishable by a fine Of from SIS to 800 Game
cannot be shipped outside the territory at
any time. This is to shut out pot-hunt-
ers, so numerous in Oklahoma. Common
carriers, such as railways or express COM
panies are subject TO a fine of 500 for
each offense. Their agents are liable to
fine of from $50 to 500. A single pair of
birds or animals for scientific purposes
can be exported.
The new law is due to the persistent en-
ergy Of Senator Bellamy, himself an ard
ent lover of the hunting sport, and it is
fair TO presume that every sportsman in |
the territory win render hearty assistance !
10 the game warden in protecting the |
game and fish.