The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1901-10-19
ELROD NOT GUILTY.
Game Warden Says He Did Not
Break Game Law.

From Helena Record
After careful investigation of
the facts in the case, extending over
| several weeks, State Game Warden
| w. F. Scott exonerates Professor
Morton j. Elrod, of the state univers-
ity, from the charges made against
him and other attaches of the Bio
logical station in Flathead county, of
illegally killing various kinds of
game.
The charges were preferred against
the professor and his assistants in
August, ana the Kalispell Bee
took the matter up first, asserting
that local sportsmen were indignant
over the report that the biological
station people were killing geese and
ducks "in defiance of the law" The
Bee also stated editorially that an
examination of the state game law
had been made and that it was "hard
for man to understand why a duck
or goose killed in the open season
is not just as good for scientific pur-
poses as one killed in the closed
season and in violation of the law"
In the same editorial Professor Ell
rod was called upon to explain "these
violations of the law by the people
for whom he stands sponsor" refer
ence being made to the fact that the
professor has always posed as an
ardent stickler for the protection Of
game birds and animals. The Bee al
) so alleged that other people might
: also plead the excuse of scientific
: researches for violating the game
. law.
A subsequent edition of the Bee
gave publication to a letter from
! Professor P. M. Silloway, who was
l with the party at the biological sta
l ton in the capacity of ornitholigist,
l during the time when the violations
d of the game law were said to have
taken place. He called the atten.
f ton of the Bees editorial writer to
lied their actions at the station
which is as follows:
90
Of this act shall apply to persons
hunting or otherwise engaged in col
ecting specimens under the direction
~ of, and in the interest of any state
~ educational institution of the state
10 Of Montana.
y Professor Silloway further sal;
= that the actions of the station people
y had been perfectly open at all time
~ and that they are unable to worl
atield in the collection of specimen
- during the open season, which tn
&c law itself contemplates by it's pre-
vision. He answered all the othe
&c contentious in the report and editor
~ ial reference.
'" In the natural course of bushes
y the charges made against Professo
d. Elrod and his assistants came to tn
NJ attention of State Game Warde
y Scott, and he took up the investigs
a iy,tn
iie ject at the time and expressed hin
III self very strongly, in view of the a
DIS legged facts presented.
10 Mr.. Scott has now investigated tn
III charges, through his deputy, an
~ takes different view of the entir
ne affair. He said to the Record We
III terday:
DC IF these charges were as the
81 were represented by the Kalspe
gu Bee, l was determined to sift tn
proposition to the bottom, and if til
II parties were guilty, to prosecut
IL them the same as anyone else.
Taking into consideration thu
"s Professor Elrod was the Representa-
se tive of the League of America
Gu Sportsmen in the state of Montana,
ne believed that if he had committed tn
ne crimes he was charged with, he d.
'c' served more than others to /
lie nrOSecufod fo tho fu1lost ovt,rt 80 =,
law.
II have sifted the matter to til
bottom ana am now convinced thu
Professor Elrod and other membe,
OF the biological station staff hay
been misrepresented, and that til
charges were dictated by person;
90 spite"