The Red Cloud chief., 1902-12-19
BIG HAUL OF GAME
Warden simpkins selzes Mig sbipmen,
of Quail

Warden sImpkins seizes Mig shipment
of Quail
A Fremont. Neb., Dec. IL. dispatch
says: Two barrels of quail consigned
from Verdigre as an express shipment
to George W. Linn & Co, Chicago. were
seized here by Deputy State Game
Warden George l.. Carter this morning
while en- route to their destination. and
the person who sent them will be
placed under arrest for violating the
state game laws. The birds were
shipped with the feathers on. and each
barrel was covered with a layer of
dressed chickens in order to hide its
contents.
Warden Carter received n tip several
days ago that someone at Verdigre was
quietly buying ur quail. and he laid
his plans accordingly. The birds are
said to be so thick along two sterams
near there that n can almost go out
and kill them with "A club. Although
their slaughter is forbidden until No
vember |, 1903. hunters have been sub
jecting themselves to liability for pro-
secution in Knox county by shooting
tn I'M.
Tho name of The consignor was not
learned, ne Local Agent NJ. A. Repass
OF the American Express company,
who had the way bill. vert 10 Omaha
with 1t leaving the deputy warden ig-
norant OF the Shippers identity. How
ever, Mr.. Cater established telephone
communication with Omaha and thus
secured this important information.
II has been known for three or four
days that n shipment Of quail would
probably be made from Verdigre, and a
secret service agent In the states en-
ploy has been quietly putting in his
time there and at other points along
the Fremont road. He was at Verdi
gre this morning when the two barrels
Of b $ were placed aboard. Warden
Carter had gone up as far as Norfolk
yesterday, and he met the detective
there this morning. He boarded the
train, came to Fremont and went into
the express car at this point and broke
the barrels open.
At first sight IL appeared that the
cargo was not What the warden was
looking foi. as nothing but dressed
chickens could be seen. Mr.. Carter has
been long enough. in the business. how
ever, to know the tricks that are some
times resorted to. The idea struck him.
too, that the barrels did not seem
heavy enough to hold dressed chick
n He accordingly took of a few OF
the carcasses and found underneath a
mass Of smaller birds, no dressed. and
with their heads on. They were Ne
braska quail.
The other barrel was found to be
similarly filled Mr.. Carter ut once took
chars of them and ordered them set
out on the platform. The train to Lin
coin carried them to the capital city
and Mr.. Carter with them. The Law
provides that seizures Of game shall be
distributed amongst the hospitals Of
the state, so that the quail will be put
to goo use. though they W re killed
illegally.
For killing quail on, Of season, or
at any time prior to November l OF
next year. the legislature OF 1901 passed
act providing punishment in the
shape Of s. fine for each bird. The
two barrels seized contained 537 quail.
twentv-nine prairie chickens and ten
pin tail grouse. so that IL a clear case
can be proven AGAINST the cOnsignor 1t
will mean at least a $3.50 fine FOR
him.
The American Express company may
also come in for a fine Of from $25 to
500 for carrying the quail. The law
specifically fixes such a forfeit for re-
ceiving packages OF fish or game for
shipment unless the proper labels are
affixed. and the same punishment Is
fixed for receiving consignments OF
fish or game that are out of season.
The mere possession of such packages
in transit Is held to be prima facie evil
dence of a violation of the statute.
Warden Carter said that this seizure
of quail was the largest he has made.
The manner in which it was detected
shows that the man who sets about to
overstep the law must proceed very
cautiously il he does not want to be
caught.