The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-09-30
IN DLfEkSE OF BIRDS
fr. Pearson peplies TO Mr.
CruWSoG's Article.
Sh1ws That Mr.. Anthony Was Called to Ac-
coun fur Violating Law Passed q
Years Ago

coun for Violating Law Passed u
Years Ago
To the Editor: The communication of
Mr.. o. F. Crowson, published in your
issue of September 22nd, in which the
author seeks to defend Mr.. G.. w. Anthony
for the killing by fire and smoke of
large number of chimney swifts, and con
dcmning the Audubon Society for taking
notice of the same, so far misrepresents
the sentiment of the friends of that or
ganization that wish to submit a state
ment of the Socetys relationship to this
case, and its work in general, as some
people might be misled by Mr. Crowson S
article.
Some days ago my attention was call
ed to the following editorial IN the
Greensboro Record:
THE following taken from the Ala
nance Cleaner of this week should re-
eeive the attention of Solicitor Brooks
and Mr.. Pearson, secretary of the Au-
dubon Society of North Carolina. 1t
seems that these poor birds in seeking
refuge from the terrible storm which
swept over Graham and Burlington this
week, were getting out of the frying pan
into the fire. The law of North Caro-
lima relating to cruelty to animals,
birds and all other living creatures is one
of the strictest and most rigorous as well
some of the most humane and beneficent
laws upon our statute books, and it is a
delight to all thinking and right
feeling people to see it vigorously en-
forced and we trust that this action may
at the proper time receive the considera-
ton of the grand jury of Alamance coun-
ty.
"Mr. George w. Anthony made a big
catch of chimney birds Tuesday night at
his residence in East Burlington. Upon
the approach of the storm he observed
them going into his chimney in great
numbers, after which he went on the
roof and put wire screen ever the top
OF the chimney, next morning he put
straw in the fire place and set it on
fire. The birds came down and two hun
dred and forty-six were bagged
The Audobon Society of North Carolina
was commissioned by the General As
sembly to work for the cultivation of a
better sentiment throughout the State
for bird and game protection and with the
cooperation of State commissioned of
fcers known as bird and game wardens
to seek to enforce the laws pertaining to
the same. The account published in the
Cleaner advertised to the world the fact
that there had been a serious violation of
the State laws at Burlington. Upon reading
this / interviewed the Solicitor of the
district and upon his advice brought the
matter to the attention OF the nearest
State game warden. This officer went to
Burlington, found the facts substantially
as published and proceeded to have the
offender brought before justice of <he
peace. He plead guilty of the charge and
was bound over to court under a hundred
dollar bond. Mr. Crowson says, ANY
one can see at glance that the action
was an injustice to Mr.. Anthony" and
proceeds ito blame the Audubon Society.
But he should go farther back and blame
the Legislature of two and twenty years
ago which in its wisdom passed the law
that no man in North Carolina shall
and wilfully cause needless and
suffering on the part of any
animal or fowl and go unbalanced. 1t is
for the violation of this law that Mr..
Anthony is called to account. The evil
dence shows that be deliberately cooped
up and smoked and burned alive two
hundred and forty-six birds. If this is not
cruelty to animals, what is? And he.
plead guilty of the charge! The rev
State bird law does not effect the case
except that by one of its provisions the
State now has special officers known as
game wardens, provision the like of
which can be found upon the statute
books of three-fourths of the States in the
Union.
The inference that it was necessary
for the gentleman to burn the birds to
death to get rid of their annoyance IN
his chimney appears to me to be errone-
Gus. The same climb that took Mr.. An
thony to the house roof to put the wire
screen over the chimney after the birds
went to roost would doubtless have en-
abled him place the scheen there some day
while the birds were away feelings upon
the insects which infest his land and
injure his crops. The birds would thus
have been unable to enter the chimney
and so would have annoyed him no
longer. 1t may be remarked in passing
that so valuable is the swift to the agrl-
cultural interests of the country as an
insect ucSlIOytI ClldC tWSuIy-l EopubCs
in the Union protect it by special iegis-
lation.
The attack on the Audubon Society in
relation to the nonresident gunner Is as
unjust as it IS misleading. Before the
Audubon bill was presented to the Leg
islature it was submitted to a number
of nonresident gentlemen who come to
this State to hunt cartridges. Their en-
Gorsement OF the proposed law was most
hearty. The following letter may serve
as an example:
January Is, 1908.
Secretary of the Audubon Society,
Greensboro, n. c.:
Dear Sir: AS a nonresident shooter
and one who leases land in the State of
North Carolina, | write to tell you how
heartily 1 endorse your proposed non
resident tax.
''The majority of non-residents who
shoot in North Carolina are interested in
leased lands, which cost them from SIS
per year up into the hundreds and more,
and it is greatly to their advantage that
the game of the State should be well pro-
tccted, and | know that as class they