The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-03-05

What is doubtless the most generally
interesting case ever tested in the
Federal court in Scranton was called
before Judge Archibald yesterday 1t is
that of the United States against sew
en- members of the Blooming Grove
Park association. all prominent men
of New York and New Jersey, charged
with violation of the recent congress
sional enactment, the Lacey game law
Through minor incident the prom
inence of the defendants in itself, makes
the case one of unusual moment. One
of the seven is N S. Smith, a wealthy
lawyer and capitalist OF New York
city, and president of the Blooming
Grove association. Another. John L.
Kuser, is a millionaire trolley magnate
and brewer Of Trenton. His brother
Benjamin c. Kuser, another of the
defendants, is n prominent coal broker
of Trenton. Robert Post and Andrew
j. Post two other brothers and defend
ants, are leading manufacturers of
Jersey City. r. Heber Breintnall, OF
Newark, prominent merchant, and
Thomas J. Barry, of New York, Il lead
ing lawyer Of the metropolis. make UP
the seven.
The Blooming Grove Park association
owns immense game and fish preserves
in Pike county. 1t has been in exist
ence for over thirty years, and en-
joys special laws made by it's own
members and passed by the Legislature
in the days prior to the constitutional
prohibition against special legislation
The natural wealth of Pike county
wilds in the matter of game and fish
has been augmented from time to
time by private stocks secured by the
association. English pheasants for in
stance are bred from eggs with the
assistance of domestic hens, and then
after being tagged and numbered
turned loose in some appropriate por-
tion of the associations domains.
INVESTIGATION MADE.
Pot hunters among the natives OF
Pike county occasoned many com.
plants to lodge with the chief game
warden of Pennsylvania, DR.. Joseph
Kolbfus. and he sent agents there to
investigate. The natives argued that
they were only doing what the wealthy
members of the Blooming Grove as.
Sociation were permitted to do. and
they didn't propose to submit to any
restrictions not imposed within the as.
sociatior domains.
The state authorities averred ttat
the association people We're not per.
mitted to do anything unlawful. The
| natives replied that be that as it may
they were doing unlawful things. Tht
state authorities declared that if This
was true it would be stopped snC
warned the natives that they mus
stop. The natives agreed that they
did not want to run counter to the
laws and OH the promise of the state
authorities to see that the laws were
enforced without discrimination, they
further agreed to help secure a stric
observance of the laws.
Inquiries put on foot by Dr. Kolbfu.
| convinced him that what the native.
were saying of the association people
was not very far from the truth and
in October last, he went to Pike county
with Deputy Joseph Berrier to make {
personal investigation.
October q, the party of seven, com
prising the defendants in this case
drove down from the club house in the
park to Glen Eyre station on the Erie
road. They had with them Il couple
of trunks and each man carried a dress
suit case, valise, satchel or other like
receptacle. To all appearance, the
cases contained only such innocent
things as clothing and toilet articles
but the game warden had reason to be-